PANAJI
Rise in dating apps and the social media boom in recent years is one possible reason being cited by officials (albeit without any sold data or strong empirical evidence), for the trend of more younger people testing positive for HIV.
"With heightened social media penetration, use of dating apps over the past few years has increased. These apps enable strangers to meet mostly for sex. It may be a factor which led to the increase in HIV infection among the young," said an official who did not wish to be identified.
Efforts are on to design awareness campaigns targeted at dating app users on the high risk of contracting HIV through unprotected sex, the health officials said.
