The Journal of Sex Research ISSN: (Print) (Online) Journal homepage: https://www.tandfonline.com/loi/hjsr20 Geosocial Networking Application Use, Characteristics of App-Met Sexual Partners, and Sexual Behavior Among Sexual and Gender Minority Adolescents Assigned Male at Birth Kathryn Macapagal , Ashley Kraus , David A. Moskowitz & Jeremy Birnholtz To cite this article: Kathryn Macapagal , Ashley Kraus , David A. Moskowitz & Jeremy Birnholtz (2020) Geosocial Networking Application Use, Characteristics of App-Met Sexual Partners, and Sexual Behavior Among Sexual and Gender Minority Adolescents Assigned Male at Birth, The Journal of Sex Research, 57:8, 1078-1087, DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2019.1698004 To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2019.1698004 Published online: 17 Dec 2019. Submit your article to this journal Article views: 733 View related articles View Crossmark data Citing articles: 3 View citing articles Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at https://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=hjsr20 THE JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH 2020, VOL. 57, NO. 8, 1078–1087 https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2019.1698004 Geosocial Networking Application Use, Characteristics of App-Met Sexual Partners, and Sexual Behavior Among Sexual and Gender Minority Adolescents Assigned Male at Birth Kathryn Macapagal a,b, Ashley Kraus a,b, David A. Moskowitz a,b, and Jeremy Birnholtz b,c aDepartment of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine; bDepartment of Medical Social Sciences, Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing, Northwestern University; cDepartment of Communication Studies, Northwestern University ABSTRACT Although many sexual and gender minorities (SGM) assigned male at birth (AMAB) use sexual network- ing applications intended for adult sexual minority men, little is known about adolescents’ use of these technologies and characteristics of their online-met partners. We conducted an online survey of 219 sexually experienced SGM AMAB adolescents in the USA aged 15–17 (39.3% racial/ethnic minority; 74.9% gay; 94.1% cisgender male). Questions assessed app use patterns, partner-seeking behaviors on sexual minority male-specific apps vs. social media/other dating apps, app-met partner characteristics, and sexual behavior with app-met partners. Most (70.3%) used apps for sexual minority men, 14.6% used social media/other apps to meet partners, and 15.1% used neither. Nearly 60% of adolescents who used any type of app reported having met people from the apps in person, and nearly 90% of these reported at least one online-met sexual partner. Most partners were reportedly older than participants, and participants were more likely to report condomless receptive anal sex with older (vs. younger) online-met partners. Although partnerships were primarily sexual in nature, a minority reported friend- ships or serious partnerships. Meeting same-sex/gender partners via applications for adults may be common among SGM AMAB adolescents, which has implications for their sexual health and well-being. The introduction of geosocial networking (GSN) smartphone assigned male at birth (SGM AMAB; e.g., gay/bisexual adolescent applications (“apps”) in the last decade has facilitated sexual boys, genderqueer youth AMAB). For adolescents who have not partner seeking among sexual minority male adults in the U.S. yet disclosed their sexual orientation identity or same-sex/gender (Goedel & Duncan, 2015;Paz-Baileyetal.,2017) and worldwide attractions to others, or who may lack access to same-sex/gender (Choi, Wong, & Fong, 2017; Krishnan et al., 2018;Lorimer, partners where they live, GSN applications can provide Flowers, Davis, & Frankis, 2016;Luoetal.,2019). These tech- aconvenient,discreetwaytofindpartnerswhothemselvesidentify nologies allow users to explore sexual desires, meet sexual needs, as sexual minorities (DuBois et al., 2015; Harper, Serrano, Bruce, & and connect to the gay community (Holloway et al., 2014; Bauermeister, 2016). As with adults, these applications have the Macapagal, Coventry, Puckett, Phillips, & Mustanski, 2016; potential to foster SGM AMAB’s psychosocial well-being by help- Van De Wiele & Tong, 2014). GSN app use has been associated ing them explore or confirm their sexual identity or reduce feelings with greater engagement in sexual health services such as HIV of isolation. However, the sexual context of GSN applications may testing among sexual minority men (Krishnan et al., 2018; facilitate greater sexual risk taking among SGM AMAB who use Landovitz et al., 2013; Lorimer et al., 2016; Rendina, Jimenez, them by expanding access to sexual partners and increasing the Grov, Ventuneac, & Parsons, 2014). However, GSN app use also likelihood of (possibly risky) sex and/or by providing easy access to has been tied to indicators of HIV/STI risk relative to general partners for those already more likely to engage in risk behavior samples of sexual minority men (Landovitz et al., 2013), such as (Jenness et al., 2010; Liau, Millett, & Marks, 2006). higher numbers of sex partners (Lehmiller & Ioerger, 2014)and To date, the only study of GSN application use among greater incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs; SGM AMAB under 18 found that over half of participants Beymer et al., 2014); though this is not uniformly the case, as had used GSN applications intended for sexual minority men some studies suggest app use may be linked with lower risk to meet male partners (Macapagal et al., 2018). Motivating behavior (Luo et al., 2019). their use was a lack of access to same-sex/gender partners and Although GSN apps focused on sex and dating typically require the desire to avoid unwanted disclosure or discovery of their users to be over age 18, these technologies also may appeal to sexual orientation. Of those who used apps, the vast majority sexual and gender minority minor adolescents (i.e., under age 18) had engaged in some sexual behavior with a partner initially CONTACT Kathryn Macapagal [email protected] Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing, Northwestern University, 625 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 14-057, Chicago, IL 60611 This article was originally published with errors, which have now been corrected in the online version. Please see Correction (https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2020. 1716554) © 2019 The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH 1079 met online. In addition, adolescents who ever used GSN app use, the characteristics of their app-met partners, and their applications for sexual minority men differed from those relationships and sexual encounters with such partners. We who used other types of sites or applications (e.g., social explored demographic, sexual behavior, and app use differences media, dating websites not exclusive to SGM individuals) to between minor adolescent users of apps for sexual minority men, meet partners in their demographic characteristics, sexual those who used other types of online spaces to meet partners risk, and sexual health behaviors. Compared to users of (e.g., social media and dating apps/websites not specific to sexual other applications, those who used apps for sexual minority minority men), and those who used neither. We also examined men were older, had more lifetime sex partners, were more differences between those who did and did not have in-person likely to have had sex exclusively with male partners, per- meetings with app-met partners. ceived themselves to be at greater risk of HIV, and reported greater rates of condomless anal sex. They were also some- Method what more likely to have been tested for HIV compared to users of other types of apps (Macapagal et al., 2018). From February to April 2018, we recruited participants for As the aforementioned study was the first step in examining a study on GSN application use and sexual health in SGM SGM AMAB’s use of GSN applications for sexual minority men, adolescents. Participants were recruited from social media other important questions remain, such as how many partners and research participant registries. Paid social media advertise- SGM AMAB meet through these online venues versus other ments on Facebook and Instagram were delivered to adoles- venues, the characteristics of these sexual partners, and the cents aged 15–18 who listed interests relevant to SGM youth nature of the relationships adolescents have with these partners. (e.g., pop culture figures, SGM-related organizations); the As most GSN application users are likely adults over age 18, research team also shared study information on their Twitter adolescents’ app-met partners may be older, which could pose accounts. Those recruited from registries received a one-time legal risks if SGM AMAB are under the legal age for consensual e-mail from the research team that included a description of sexual activity where they live. Age-discrepant sexual relation- the new study and a URL to the eligibility screener. Clicking on ships also may pose sexual health risks for younger or relatively the advertisement or on the URL in the recruitment e-mail inexperienced sexual minority male youth (Anema et al., 2013). directed the individual to an online eligibility survey. Eligible Compared to their heterosexual peers, sexual minority male individuals were AMAB; identified as a sexual minority (i.e., youth’s first sexual experiences are more likely