Abstract
Introduction
Although adolescent sexual minority men (ASMM) use sexual networking applications (SNAs), little is known about their reasons to start and stop using these apps.
Methods
Between February and April 2018, 156 ASMM in the USA aged 15–17 completed an online survey and answered open-ended questions that elicited their reasons to start and stop using SNAs. We analyzed responses through an inductive thematic analysis.
Results
The most frequent reasons to use SNAs were to find users to date, and to establish friendships or socially connect with other users due to loneliness. Participants reported positive feelings using SNAs because they were connecting with other SMM. However, participants also reported negative sentiments after receiving unwanted sexually explicit messages. The most frequently cited reason to stop using SNAs was the feeling of only receiving messages for sex rather than for starting relationships or friendships.
Conclusions
ASMM have various reasons for initiating SNAs and perceived benefits and drawbacks. Although some ASMM may expect to, and are successful in, finding dating partners and friends on SNAs, many received unwanted sexually explicit messages that produced negative sentiments of SNAs.
Policy Implications
Creating online and offline spaces for ASMM to socially connect with other sexual minority adolescents is crucial. Youth-serving professionals should assess SNA use with ASMM clients and be prepared to provide education or counseling about their use and its potential sexual, social, and mental health implications. Sexuality education should include content on the usage, safety, and alternatives of SNAs to explore sexuality and social connectedness.
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Acknowledgements
We would like to thank Kai Korpak, Shariell Crosby, Kitty Buehler, and Dan Ryan for their role in survey programming, data collection, and data processing.
Funding
This research was supported by a grant from the Sexualities Project at Northwestern University to Kathryn Macapagal. Ashley Kraus was supported by a fellowship from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences [TL1 TR001423]. This content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the views of the National Institutes of Health.
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Conceptualization: CO and KM; methodology: CO and KM; data analysis and interpretation: CO, AS, and AK; writing–original draft preparation: CO, AS, AK, JB, DM, and KM; funding acquisition: KM.
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Owens, C., Shrodes, A., Kraus, A. et al. Motivations to Start and Stop Using Sexual Networking Applications Among Adolescent Sexual Minority Men. Sex Res Soc Policy 20, 329–339 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-021-00641-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-021-00641-3