I created a profile identifying myself as a medical writer looking to talk to men about their experiences. Since there’s little published research on the men using Grindr, I decided to conduct an informal survey and ask men why they’re on the app so much and how it’s affecting their relationships and mental health. I am all for sexual liberation, but I can’t stop wondering if these apps also have a negative effect on gay men’s mental health. Apps like Grindr, with 3 million daily active users, and others like Scruff and Jack’d, are designed to help gay men solicit sex, often anonymously, online. Today in Boston, two men can walk down the street holding hands without consequence.īut I’m worried by the rise of the underground digital bathhouse. The Supreme Court ruled that same-sex marriage is a constitutional right. I can filter them by body type, sexual position (top, bottom, or versatile), and HIV status.Īs a gay psychiatrist who studies gender and sexuality, I’m thrilled with the huge strides we’ve made over the past decade to bring gay relationships into the mainstream. Scrolling down, I find 100 similar profiles within a one-mile radius of my apartment in Boston. He’s called “looking4now,” and his profile explains that he wants sex at his place as soon as possible. When I open the Grindr app on my smartphone, I see there’s a 26-year-old man with tanned abs just 200 feet away.
