POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: OneTampa on November 27, 2012, 07:48:31 pm
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Many of the new infections are among the young ages 13-24.
Clearly, there is much more work to be done.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/social-issues/endgame-aids-in-black-america/cdc-reports-troubling-rise-in-hiv-infections-among-young-people/
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It would be interesting to see a study about how much sites/apps like Grindr, Manhunt, A4A, etc, have to do with this. In the past, you had to go out looking for sex. You had to hit the bars and parks. It took some work.
Now, you can have a hook up within minutes on these sites. You can literally have someone in your bed within 10 minutes. It is faster than ordering a pizza. And, many on those sites are all having sex with the same people. My best friend frequents those sites. He'll point out all the guys he's hooked up with. He will then say how this person also hooked up with that person. He will also point out guys he thinks are not really 18, but are lying. 13, 14, and 15 year-olds can be hooking up for sex now, when they would have been more shy about approaching someone for sex prior to social networks. And, being on the other side of a screen, people can just cut to the chase and say exactly what they want to do. You don't have that pretend, "I'm here in the park jogging." You can say I want your cock in my ass now. And, you don't have to wait hours in the park or bars looking for someone who meets your criteria. You can just browse pics (assuming they're real) and find your type.
I know there has been a move in many states toward abstinence-only education. However, I never got much STD prevention ed in school. I'm not sure things have changed all that much, as far as sexual health ed goes. I really believe you could give kids all the scary STD info that could take, and it probably wouldn't make much difference. Young people know you can get HIV from sex, but many still go bareback.
I think not seeing people dying of AIDS, either personally or in the news, is the cause of being so lax. I would include myself in that. I had known a few family friends with HIV/AIDS. It really made me think, when I was around them. But, then I wouldn't hear of anyone I knew or see anyone on TV with HIV/AIDS. At that young age, it made me think HIV was very rare and the ones I knew were just very unlucky.