Are You Dating Danger?

An Interdisciplinary Approach to
Evaluating the (In)Security of Android Dating Apps

Author: Rushank Shetty

In today's age of instant gratification, dating apps provide the comfort of meeting new people at
the swipe of a finger. However, recent high profile incidents have raised privacy-related concerns
with the use of these apps. The level of harm inflicted on a victim can be either physical (e.g.
murder, stalking, sexual assault) or non-physical (e.g. identity theft, harassment and
cyberstalking). In this paper, we study ten popular Android dating apps. Using an adversary
model, we demonstrate how one can trivially conduct a man-in-the-middle attack against these
apps. We then explain how the Routine Activity Theory can be applied to design mitigation
strategies for dating apps.

Safe Sex Messages Within Dating and Entertainment

Smartphone Apps: A Review

Author: Evelyn Tzu-Yen Huang

Background Smartphone apps provide a new platform for entertainment, information distribution,
and health promotion activities, as well as for dating and casual sexual encounters. Previous
research has shown high acceptability of sexual health interventions via smartphone apps;
however, sexual health promotion apps were infrequently downloaded and underused.
Integrating sexual health promotion into established apps might be a more effective method.
Objective The objective of our study was to critically review popular sex-related apps and dating
apps, in order to ascertain whether they contain any sexual health content. Methods Part 1: In
January 2015, we used the term “sexual” to search for free apps in the Apple iTunes store and
Android Google Play store, and categorized the sexual health content of the 137 apps identified.
Part 2: We used the term “dating” to search for free geosocial-networking apps in the Apple
iTunes and Android Google Play stores. The apps were downloaded to test functionality and to
determine whether they included sexual health content. Results Part 1: Of the 137 apps
identified, 15 (11.0%) had sexual health content and 15 (11.0%) contained messages about
sexual assault or violence. The majority of the apps did not contain any sexual health content.
Part 2: We reviewed 60 dating apps: 44 (73%) targeting heterosexual users, 9 (15%) targeting
men who have sex with men (MSM), 3 (5%) targeting lesbian women, and 4 (7%) for group
dating. Only 9 dating apps contained sexual health content, of which 7 targeted MSM.
Conclusions The majority of sex-related apps and dating apps contained no sexual health
content that could educate users about and remind them of their sexual risks. Sexual health
practitioners and public health departments will need to work with app developers to promote
sexual health within existing popular apps. For those apps that already contain sexual health
messages, further study to investigate the effectiveness of the content is needed.
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Dating Application Use and Sexual Risk Behavior Among

Young Adults

Author: Ashlee Sawyer

Cell phone-based dating applications (apps) are increasingly popular in the USA. However, there
is a paucity of research regarding dating app use among young heterosexual adults. This study
examined the prevalence of dating application use and its connections with sexual behavior
among young heterosexual adults. Five hundred nine heterosexual cisgender undergraduate
students aged 18–25 completed an online survey assessing trait impulsivity, dating app use and
motivations for using dating apps, sexual behavior, and demographics. 39.5% of the participants
reported using dating apps. Individuals who used dating apps had higher rates of sexual risk
behaviors in the past 3 months, including sex after using drugs or alcohol, and unprotected sex
(anal or vaginal), and more lifetime sexual partners. When controlling for demographics and
impulsivity, individuals who used dating applications were twice as likely to have had
unprotected sex in the past 3 months, but were not significantly more likely to have had multiple
partners within the past 3 months. In an exploratory analysis controlling for demographics and
impulsivity, dating app use predicted the number of lifetime sexual partners. This study
documented an association between dating app use and sexual risk behaviors among young
heterosexual adults. Results suggest potential targets for intervention, including interventions
that address sexual health information, and the dissemination of sexual health information
through dating apps themselves.