Exploring the role of sex-seeking apps and websites in the social and sexual lives of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between online sex-seeking, community/social attachment and sexual behaviour.

Methods: Respondent-driven sampling was used to recruit 774 sexually active gay and bisexual men in Vancouver, Canada, aged ≥16 years. Multivariable logistic regression compared men who had used online sex-seeking apps/websites in the past 6 months (n=586) with those who did not (n=188).

Results: Multivariable results showed that online sex seekers were more likely to be younger [adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=0.95, 95% CI: (0.93-0.96)], college educated [aOR=1.60, 95% CI: (1.07, 2.40)], have more Facebook friends [aOR=1.07, 95% CI: (1.01, 1.13)], spend more social time with other gay men [aOR=1.99, 95% CI: (1.33-2.97)], and were less likely to identify emotionally with the gay community [aOR=0.93, 95% CI: (0.86-1.00)]. Further, they had displayed high sensation-seeking behaviour [aOR=1.08, 95% CI: (1.03-1.13)], were more likely to engage in serodiscordant/unknown condomless anal sex [aOR=2.34, 95% CI: (1.50-3.66)], use strategic positioning [aOR=1.72, 95% CI: (1.08-2.74)], ask their partner's HIV-status prior to sex [aOR=2.06, 95% CI: (1.27-3.37)], and have ever been tested for HIV [aOR=4.11, 95% CI: (2.04-8.29)].

Conclusion: These findings highlight the online and offline social behaviour exhibited by gay and bisexual men, pressing the need for pro-social interventions to promote safe-sex norms online. We conclude that both Internet and community-based prevention will help reach app/web users.