These features might be appealing to gay and bisexual adolescent boys that are not as open about their sexual identity, that have a smaller pool of potential partners compared to their own peers and that are navigating hookup sites and sex using same gender spouses for the first time. It is common for adolescents, regardless of their sexual orientation, to utilize sexually explicit media like porn or apps to explore their sexuality. Thirty four percentage of participants said they used the apps to meet a brand new gay or bisexual buddy. The study was published today, May , at the Journal of Adolescent Health.

The sooner we know the role these apps play at the lives of gay and bisexual teen guys, the sooner we will have the ability to tailor sex education and HIV prevention efforts for this population and help them live healthier lives. It is the first known study to document that gay and bisexual teenage boys use hookup sites and sex apps designed for adult men to find male spouses. More than of the youth reported using hookup sites apps like Grindr that the most downloaded app worldwide for guys who have sex with men and hookup sites because they felt like they had several options for meeting gay, bisexual and queer spouses in their areas. While this study points out that hookup sites apps pose some risks, we were pleased to learn that there are lots of positive ways youth utilize these apps that help them feel confident and comfortable in their sexuality, said author Kathryn Macapagal, research assistant professor of medical social sciences in the Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing in Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

Over percent of study participants said they used these technologies to prevent other non LGBTQ people from learning in their sexual orientation. They could better learn about ways to protect their sexual health and feel alone, which is essential for gay and bisexual teens that are far more likely to feel isolated or depressed because of their sexual orientation or identity. The analysis highlights how small parents, educators and health care providers understand about how adolescents spend their time on apps and online technology that is continually changing.

Although hookup sites apps require consumers to be or older, a new Northwestern Medicine study found that over of sexually active gay and bisexual boys ages to fulfilled male sexual partners on apps like why not try this out Grindr and Scruff. The apps supply users with a digital networking space particularly hookup websites for gay and bisexual guys and overcome the snapfuck login requirement to find out a potential spouse ‘s or buddy ‘s sexuality. From the analysis, sexually experienced gay and bisexual teenage boys ages to , who were recruited from Facebook and Instagram, finished online survey questions assessing their usage of apps to meet partners for hookup sites and sex, as well as their sexual behavior and HIV risk.

So it becomes important for parents and others working closely with adolescents to become proactive in having conversations with adolescents about online security and sexual security, especially on apps or sites they may not officially be allowed to use because of their age. It was common for these teens to utilize the apps to get in touch with friends and find new gay, bisexual and queer friends and boyfriends, which sheds new light on who utilizes adult male hookup sites apps and why. Gay and bisexual teenager boys account for almost two thirds of HIV infections among teenagers in the United States, but unfortunately sex education and HIV prevention tailored to their needs is all but nonexistent, Macapagal said. Overall, . percent of participants reported using hookup sites apps to discover male spouses.

Teenage boys that used the apps were more likely find important sexual health services, such as HIV testing, the analysis found.