Grindr, the world's largest gay dating app, just announced that it will start sending reminders to its users to get tested for HIV. The new software will be an opt-in reminder every three to six months to get tested. The app will also let clinics and LGBTQ+ community centers advertise for free.
"This will 'demedicalize' testing and destigmatize it," Dr. Perry Halkitis, dean of the Rutgers School of Public Health, said in an interview with the New York Times. "The more you make it normal, the more people are going to access it."
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As studies have shown that using social media to remind queer users about HIV testing can triple chance they'll get tested, Grindr's new service has great potential to increase testing rates and, hopefully, decrease transmission rates.
"One of Grindr for Equality's goals is to contribute to the movement to increase information, reduce HIV transmission, and support our whole community - regardless of HIV status - in living long and fulfilling lives, free of stigma," said Jack Harrison-Quintana, Director of Grindr for Equality in a PRNewswire story. "We felt this update would be a great way to make an immediate impact within the community on a broad scale and encourage more regular HIV testing."
