Sharing HIV status hasn’t always been this easy or widely accepted.
If he is negative he can choose to say if he is on PrEP, a preemptive dose of the HIV treatment drug Truvada, that gives protection from becoming infected. If a user is positive he can choose to say if his viral load is undetectable, which makes the virus impossible to transmit. Much like its precursors Manhunt and Gaydar, Grindr has a field in each profile where users can let people know if they are HIV-positive or negative. After all, people are already trading pictures of less visible parts of their anatomy disclosing HIV status requires less fuss and perspective than a good shot of the meat and potatoes. It may surprise some that Grindr would have that sort of sensitive medical information to share with businesses helping them optimise their product, but it’s part of a culture of transparency that the anonymity and ease of the internet has fostered. That’s why it was especially troubling when users discovered on Tuesday that Grindr had been sharing their information – including location and HIV status – with third-party firms. For better or worse, in the digital age the safe space where many gay men are finding that community (and sexual) connection is on Grindr, one of a host of mobile “dating” apps that sorts users based on their proximity to one another.
