Dating Apps Blamed in new STD Increase
STD infections have been increasing almost on a daily basis. Cases of gonorrhea and syphilis have reached levels not seen in a long time, and chlamydia is currently at an all-time high. It’s bad news, and it’s understandable that health officials want to get to the bottom of these alarming numbers as soon as possible.
Hawaii’s Department of Health is one of the first to come out and say what everyone is already thinking: hookup apps are to blame.
Dating apps have made it easier to start up a long-term relationships as well as engage in short-term flings. This, combined with the increasingly anonymous nature of dating among 20-somethings, is at the heart of the recent STD spikes, according to health officials.
“As people rely on digital means of making connections, it can lead to circumstances where they might be more exposed to infection without them knowing it,” Gerald Hasty of Hawaii’s DOH Harm Reduction Services Branch, explains. “More partners, more chances to get infections.”
Adding to the dramatic increase in STD cases is the fact that the diseases seeing huge increases don’t always produce immediate symptoms, leading some to believe they are perfectly healthy but are actually spreading infections around. This should be a big motivator for individuals with multiple sexual partners to get regular screenings for STDs, and use protection in all circumstances.
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