ArticleSexually transmitted infections2016
Gay mobile apps and the evolving virtual risk environment: a cross-sectional online survey among men who have sex with men in China.
Article in Sexually transmitted infections, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 40 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
40 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 77 citations in OpenAlex.
- The use of geosocial networking smartphone applications and the risk of sexually transmitted infections among men who have sex with men: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC public health · 2018Pooled it
- Internet-Based Sex-Seeking Behavior Promotes HIV Infection Risk: A 6-Year Serial Cross-Sectional Survey to MSM in Shenyang, China.BioMed research international · 2016Trial
- An individual with multiple high-risk links uncovered: an epidemiological investigation based on molecular network analysis.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Sexual and Psychosocial Risk Burdens Associated With Online Sex Seeking Among Young Men Who Have Sex With Men: Cross-Sectional Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Article
- Spatiotemporal and Behavioral Patterns of Men Who Have Sex With Men Using Geosocial Networking Apps in Shenzhen From Mobile Big Data Perspective: Longitudinal Observational Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Observational
- Risk Determinants of Sexual Behaviors: Dating Apps, History of Sexually Transmitted Infections, Substance Use, and Pornography Consumption in Health Science Students.Nursing reports (Pavia, Italy) · 2025Article
- Predicting HIV self-testing intentions among Chinese college students: a dual-model analysis integrating health belief constructs and machine learning prioritization.Frontiers in public health · 2025Article
- Experiences of Stigma and HIV Status Associated with Awareness and Usage of Safer Sex Functions in Dating Apps Among MSM, 2019 American Men's Internet Survey (AMIS) Study.AIDS and behavior · 2023Article
- Geosocial networking mobile applications use and HIV and other sexually transmitted infections among men who have sex with men in Southern China: A cross-sectional study.Frontiers in public health · 2023Article
- Correlates of condom use among male university students from eastern China who engage in casual sex.PloS one · 2023Article
- Geosocial Networking App Use Associated With Sexual Risk Behavior and Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Use Among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex With Men: Cross-sectional Web-Based Survey.JMIR formative research · 2022Article
- Online sex-seeking among Chinese heterosexual men who seek care in sexually transmitted infections clinics: a cross-sectional study.Archives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique · 2022Article
- Article
- Characterizing genetic transmission networks among newly diagnosed HIV-1 infected individuals in eastern China: 2012-2016.PloS one · 2022Article
- Blocking and being blocked on gay dating apps among MSM attending a sexual health clinic: an observational study.BMC public health · 2021Observational
- "What Are You Looking For?" Investigating the Association Between Dating App Use and Sexual Risk Behaviors.Sexual medicine · 2021Article
- Analysis on the trend of AIDS incidence in Zhejiang, China based on the age-period-cohort model (2004-2018).BMC public health · 2021Article
- Article
- Adolescent and non-consensual anal sexual debut among Chinese men who have sex with men: a cross-sectional study.BMC infectious diseases · 2020Article
- Protect MSM from HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases by providing mobile health services of partner notification: protocol for a pragmatic stepped wedge cluster randomized controlled trial.BMC public health · 2020Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
9 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
objectivesThe expansion of gay sex-seeking application (gay app) use among men who have sex with men (MSM) may create new virtual risk environments that facilitate STI transmission. The goals of this study were to compare sexual behaviours between gay app users and non-users, and to describe sexual behaviours among gay app users in China.
methodsIn October 2014, we recruited MSM from three Chinese gay websites. Data on sociodemographics, sexual behaviours and gay app use were collected. Logistic regressions were used to compare gay app users with non-app users and to identify factors associated with condomless sex among gay app users.
resultsOf the 1424 participants, most were <30 years old (77.5%), single (83.8%) and self-identified as gay (72.9%). Overall, 824 (57.9%) had used gay apps for partner-seeking in the last 6 months. Among gay app users, 36.4% met their last partner within 24 hours of first message exchange through gay apps, and 59.0% negotiated condom use before in-person meeting. Compared with non-users, gay app users reported engaging in more condomless sex in the last 6 months (adjusted OR (aOR) =1.52, 95% CI 1.19 to 1.94) and more group sex (aOR =1.49, 95% CI 1.02 to 2.18). Negotiating condom use before in-person meeting was positively associated with condom use with partners met through gay apps (aOR =1.83, 95% CI 1.29 to 2.60).
conclusionsGay apps are linked to risky sexual behaviours and may foster a virtual risk environment for STI transmission among Chinese MSM. App-based interventions could target young gay man and facilitate condom negotiation.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.