Love me Tinder (but) love me true—so says Los Angeles based AIDS Health Foundation (a health organization).
The group believes that location-based dating apps like Tinder and…Grindr (I didn’t make that up..yeah..Grindr) are making it too easy to hookup and have casual sex as swift as a swipe.
As a basis to back up their claims, the agency says that as per the 2014 CDC report, the “dramatic rise” rise in STDs like chlamydia and gonorrhea has given cause for concern and believes these located based dating apps are part of the problem, so much so that they took out an entire billboard warning readers of the risks of catching the STD. They have a billboard in Los Angeles and have plans to expand their message to New York, Miami, and Fort Lauderdale, much like their 45 bench campaign currently spread throughout in Los Angeles.
According to Time, via a statement on the foundation’s website, they claim [quote]
Mobile dating apps are rapidly altering the sexual landscape by making casual sex as easily available as ordering a pizza. In many ways, location-based mobile dating apps are becoming a digital bathhouse for millennials wherein the next sexual encounter can literally be just a few feet away — as well as the next STD.
Both Tinder and Grindr fought back with cease to desist orders-claiming that the foundation too, is just trying to get the business:
These unprovoked and wholly unsubstantiated accusations are made to irreparably damage Tinder’s reputation in an attempt to encourage others to take an HIV test offered by your organization.
Tinder was successful in getting the group to halt their campaign but agreed to provide information on testing locations for sexually transmitted diseases. They provided this statement (with regard to the claim that the location based mobile dating apps are in any way correlated or to blame for the rise in STDs)
An important aspect of any healthy relationship – whether formed on Tinder or otherwise — is ensuring sexual health and safety. While the CDC, who conducted the largest and most credible study on the topic, has never identified any connection that supports the idea that Tinder usage correlates with, let alone causes, an increase in STDs, we’re of course in favor of organizations that provide public education resources on the topic.
Unlike slow love (dating via profile put up online via dating sites and such) it seems as thought Tinder and Grindr have stepped up their game from the “speed dating” of old (where groups of people meet up at a specific location and take turns playing a game of musical chair almost, by spending short, specific amount of times sitting at tables and talking to various people-leaving it up to each to decide what, if any connection they had with the other.
Related: Be sure to explore OSF’s Sex & Relationship channel 8
I’m guessing with Tinder and Grindr, rather than scouring online profiles and hanging back on inbox messages to be
