Jack'd dating application motivations, experiences, and sexual risk behaviors: a qualitative pilot study.

INTRODUCTION

Little is known about geosocial networking dating application use among young Black gay and bisexual men (YBGBM), a group severely affected by HIV in the U.S. The purpose of this study was to explore: (1) How YBGBM describe motivations to use Jack'd; (2) How YBGBM describe and experience meeting romantic-sexual partners on Jack'd, including partner preferences and offline sexual encounters; and (3) How these descriptions and experiences reflect sexual risk behaviors?

METHODS

Between April and July 2015, we conducted 23 face-to-face semistructured interviews with self-identified Black gay (n=15) and bisexual (n=8) men aged 21-25 years (M=23.48, SD=1.5) in Washington, DC. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis methodology.

RESULTS

Motivations to use Jack'd included in-person discomfort and challenges meeting men in spaces that could lead to homophobic physical violence. Nearly half articulated distrust with a Jack'd-met partner HIV status disclosure. Some participants reported inconsistent condom use when the insertive partner in anal sex, and several perceived Jack'd-met partners their own age to be less concerned about HIV than older men.

CONCLUSION

HIV prevention strategies directed towards YBGBM should consider the role that dating applications may play in either exacerbating or attenuating sexual risk.