It seems like gay dating/hookup app Grindr is considering whether or not to add a HIV status filter into its user interface.
Some users have recently gotten a survey request from the app which hopes to find out how they feel about filtering other users based on HIV status.
One of those who reported about the survey is HIV-positive blogger Josh Robbins, who received it last week.
He has since posted screenshots of the survey online:
(Via IAmStillJosh.com)
(Via IAmStillJosh.com)
The survey also asks its participant about their HIV status, whether they are on any anti-HIV medication, whether they know of the common terminology used, and so on.
Robbins criticised that the survey exposes ‘Grindr’s potential interest in perpetuating the false idea that if someone says that they are negative – [then] it must be true.’
He added: ‘I am concerned about the possible direction of creating an environment on Grindr, by Grindr, of not encouraging disclosure and creating a false sense of HIV prevention by filtering out those that honestly admit to living with HIV.’
(Via IAmStillJosh.com)
(Via IAmStillJosh.com)
Daniel Reeders who blogs at Bad Blood described that HIV filter would be a ‘digital quarantine’ that would signal that ‘HIV stigma is normal and rational.’
He urged Grindr to drop the idea immediately.
‘We are living in an era of effective prevention medication,’ Reeders said. ‘We should not be reinforcing categories that are used in less effective strategies for prevention.’
Indeed, having a HIV status filter on the app can prove to bring about a number of complex implications.
Would the filter cause a greater divide in the community that already has a lot (e.g. racism, homophobia, and etc.) to deal with?
Would there be legal implications when the function is abused? Such as when someone ticks negative when they are actually positive, knowingly or not?
Are we disrespecting responsible HIV-positive men who are undetectable and honest about themselves?
What do you think?
The post Will you use a HIV status filter on social apps like Grindr? appeared first on Gay Star News.
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