Sex and the Internet: gay men, risk reduction and serostatus.
Access to the Internet has increased dramatically over the past decade as has its use for meeting sexual partners (e-dating), particularly among gay men. Between June 2002 and January 2004, 128 gay/bisexual men living in London were interviewed one-to-one about their experience of e-dating, sexual risk and HIV prevention. The men were recruited both online (through the Internet) and offline (in clinics and the community); 32 men were HIV-positive, 59 HIV-negative, while 13 had never had an HIV test. A key finding was that both identity as well as anonymity are vital to e-dating. Through a process of online filtering and sero-sorting, HIV-positive men are able to meet other positive men for anal sex without condoms. While this does not present a risk of HIV transmission to an uninfected person it does have implications for the potential transmission of other STIs such as syphilis and LGV. Through e-dating, HIV-positive gay men can also avoid abuse, discrimination and sexual rejection. Our findings do not support the suggestion that the attraction of e-dating is that it affords absolute anonymity. We found that the gradual expression of identity is vital for e-dating among gay men. Internet-based HIV prevention campaigns need to take account of the different ways in which gay reflexively manage aspects of their identity online.
Davis
Mark
M
City University London, Institute of Health Sciences, St Bartholomew School of Nursing and Midwifery, UK. m.davis@uel.ac.uk
Hart
Graham
G
Bolding
Graham
G
Sherr
Lorraine
L
Elford
Jonathan
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000523:psychology*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000523:psychology