Social Media Use and High-Risk Sexual Behavior Among Black Men Who Have Sex with Men: A Three-City Study

Abstract Black men who have sex with men (MSM) beara disproportionate burden of human immunodeficiency(HIV) incidence in the United States. Little research hasfocused on the associations between social media use andsexual behavior among Black MSM. 205 Black MSMcompleted measures assessing social media use and sexualbehaviors. Men spent an average of 34 h per week onsocial media sites. 53 % arranged sexual hookups online inthe previous 3 months, and did so a mean of 10 times.Overall, users of social media and men who arrangedsexual hookups online engaged in more risky behaviorsthan non-users and men who did not arrange sexualhookups online. However, partner-level data indicated thatmen engaged in fewer risky behaviors with partners metonline compared to partners met in other ways such as atbars or through friends. Social media-based interventionsdesigned to decrease HIV transmission among racialminority MSM are needed