‘Tinder’ boom linked to spike in infections
Health campaign launched to help ‘swipe’ away problem
It’s the mobile app that’s revolutionised dating – but a sharp spike in sexual disease in Scarborough could all be down to Tinder.
Scarborough i s bucking the national average for positive chlamydia tests, with the figure rocketing over the last 18 month.
That’s according to l ocal NHS experts, who say one in 10 Scarborough people tested are found to have the infection, up from one in 13.
And that increase has occurred in the same period apps like Tinder and Grinder have become used more and more by those looking to “hook up”.
“We know that the use of Tinder and Grinder are definitely on the increase, and we certainly know through our research that these apps are increasing the number of people meeting up,” said Liz Hare, Chlamydia Screenin g Pro-gramme Co-ordinator.
“Are more people hav-ing casual sex? I don’t know, but more people are meeting through social media and that certainly makes it easier to have casual sex.”
And she added : “Yo un g adults who choose to date and find sexual partners online may be less likely to have the confidence or inclination to present themselves in person for testing at a clinic.”
Tinder is a dating app i n which people “s wipe” t heir screen for potential partners nearby.
It is aimed at helping people date, but is used frequently for young people fancying a casual fling.
As a result of that, a cam- paign has been l aunched by Scarborough’s NHS trust to educate youngsters about the potential risks.
That was kicked off in Scarborough town centre on Saturday, and Liz added: “The aim of the campaign is to increase uptake of testing, recognising that internet ‘hook-up’ sites are an increasingly popular way for people of all ages to meet others.”
Last year 2,092 people were tested for Chlamydia in North Yorkshire via remote or online testing. Of these 192 tested positive.
But she added that while more young people are turning to Tinder to find a match, she holds “no judgement” on the site – and that users ultimately are accountable for their own behaviour.
“A huge number of people meet partners on Tinder – it’s not for casual sex, it’s for relationships,” said Liz.
“The only way that you can protect yourself from getting a sexually transmitted infection is by practising safe sex.”