1. Use of Craigslist to Hook Up: Age Differences in Sex Requests,
HIV Disclosure, and Negotiated Safety among Men Seeking Men
Aliya Buttar, MPH1, Tyler Peterson1, Lindsey C. Gray, MPH1, Andrea Esp BS1, Kristen Clements-Nolle PhD, MPH1
1 University of Nevada Reno, School of Community Health Sciences
Summary & Recommendations
Explicit sexual requests were frequently posted, and there were few differences between younger and older men in these requests.
Older men were more likely to request younger men and hook ups that were discreet or on the down low with no strings attached.
Younger men were more likely to state that they were new to men and to request older partners. In addition, HIV/STI disclosure and safe sex requests were less common for young men.
There is an urgent need to reach men who use Craigslist to hook up with other men with age specific interventions.
Background
Men are increasingly using the internet to meet male sex partners,1,2
and there is evidence that young men use the internet to explore their sexual identity3 and meet their first male sex partner.4
Despite the popularity of Craigslist among men seeking men, little is known about the content of postings on this electronic bulletin board5 and no studies have explored age differences in sex requests, HIV status disclosure and negotiated safety.
Results
Methods
On Saturday, June 4, 2009, data from 1075 Craigslist men seeking men ads in five cities (Boise, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Reno, and Sacramento) were abstracted using a structured instrument.
Craigslist requires that individuals acknowledge that they are at least 18 years of age before posting an ad.
91.5% (N=948) of ads assessed included age, with 21% posted by younger men (18-24 years) and 75% posted by older men (≥25 years).
Chi-square analyses were used to assess age differences in sex requests, HIV status disclosure, and negotiated safety among younger and older men.
References
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Bull SS, McFarlane M, Lloyd L, Rietmeijer C The process of seeking partners online and implications for STD/HIV Prevention. AIDS Care. 16(8):
Kubicek K, Beyer WJ, Weiss G, Iverson E, & Kipke MD In the dark: young men’s stories of sexual initiation in the absences of relevant sexual health information. Health Education & Beahavior. 37(2):
Bolding G, Davis M, Hart G, Sherr L, & Elford J Where young MSM meet their first sexual partner: the role of the internet. AIDS Behavior. 11:
Grov C Risky sex and drug-seeking ina probability sample of men-for-men online bullein board postings. AIDS Behavior. Retrieved from