Social Media Use and Sexual Risk Reduction Behavior Among Minority Youth: Seeking Safe Sex Information.
Robin Stevens, Stacia Gilliard-Matthews, Jamie Dunaev and 3 others
PMID 28858145WHAT IT FOUND
Among African-American and Latino/a youth, social media was a common source of sexual risk-reduction information and was associated with reporting recent contraception and condom use.
These are cross-sectional links, not proof social media causes safer sex.
Key findings
01Social media was the fourth most commonly cited source of sexual risk-reduction information, with 45-47% of youth reporting it.
02Youth who reported contraception information from social media were 2.69 times more likely to report using contraception at last intercourse, and youth who reported sexual risk-reduction messages from social media were 2.49 times more likely to report condom use.
03No pregnancy-prevention information source was significantly associated with intentions to have sex; HIV/STD prevention information from school and magazines were negatively associated.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study is cross-sectional, so it can show associations only, not causes. The sexual intercourse question did not specify vaginal, oral, or anal sex, so respondents interpreted it differently. It did not gather information on the actual content and messages received from the different information sources. It was done in a small Northeast U.S. city with high poverty and crime, so findings may not apply elsewhere. It remains unclear which beliefs or attitudes mediate the associations between social media information and behavior.
Declared interests
The authors reported no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the associations as proof that social media makes youth use condoms or contraception. The design is cross-sectional and measures self-reported exposure and behavior at the same time, so youth who already practice safer sex may also seek or receive sexual health information online.