Dating apps to blame for 'HIV epidemic' among teens in Asia, says UN
30 NOVEMBER 2015 • 11:41AM
The use of smartphone dating apps has led to a rise in cases of HIV among teens in south-east Asia, according to the United Nations.
The results of a two-year study by the UN, revealed a spike in infections among 10 to 19-year-olds in Asia and the Pacific region, where more than half the world’s 1.2 billion adolescents live. The official estimate of those living with HIV is around 220,000 – though the real number is thought to be much higher.
Fewer than half of those infected are undergoing treatment, and deaths from the virus have increased every year for the last decade. Teens are more likely to die of Aids-related conditions, as they are often reluctant to seek treatment – fearing the stigma of having to reveal their sexuality, say Unicef and UNAIDS.
Many south-east Asian countries require under 18s must get parental consent before being allowed to take an HIV test in the first place.
"In the Thai capital Bangkok, gay teens have a one in three chance of contracting the HIV virus".
The results of the study were announced just hours beforeWorld Aids Day 2015.
UN researchers found that the increasing popularity of apps that offer casual sex based on proximity, with young gay men was a significant factor in the ‘HIV epidemic’.
In the Philippines, new HIV infections among teens have doubled since 2011. While in the Thai capital Bangkok, gay teens have a one in three chance of contracting the virus.
In 18 countries across the Asia-Pacific region, same-sex relationships are against the law, meaning gay men tend to avoid using potentially live-saving HIV services.
Unicef HIV adviser Wing-Sie Cheng told the Guardian: ““Young gay men themselves have consistently told us that they are now using mobile dating apps to meet up for sex, and are having more casual sex with more people as a result. We know that this kind of risky behaviour increases the spread of HIV.
She added that the global strategy to tackle HIV urgently needs to take into account the rise in mobile dating apps.
“We are therefore convinced that there is a link, and that we need to work better with mobile app providers to share information about HIV and protect the health of adolescents.”
The UN study recommends that dating apps become vital sources of HIV messaging. It points to a 2014 World Aids Day campaign by Chinese gay dating app Blued, where users had a red ribbon added to their profile pictures and linked to details of HIV testing centres.
Apps such as Grindr and Online Buddies have responded, saying they already offer sexual health advice and resources to users. But critics claim such features don’t work and are often played down as they tend to put people off online dating in the first place.
Globally, the number of HIV infections is falling, although Aids remains the second biggest cause of deaths among teens worldwide – tripling over the past 15 years, mostly due to transmission from mother to child. It is the leading cause of death among adolescents in Africa.
The new research is a significant setback for the UN, which has pledged to end the worldwide Aids crisis by 2030. Public health officials are warning that the Asia-Pacific epidemic could now occur elsewhere.
