This Study on Teens Using Grindr Shows Why We Desperately Need LGBTQ Spaces for Youths

This past Friday, the Chicago Tribunereported on a groundbreaking study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, which looks at the various reasons teenage gay and bisexual men, ages 14-17, use Grindr.

The data was gathered through online surveys taken by 200 sexually experienced teens in the United States. It’s the first known study to look at gay app use for men under the legal age of consent.

As we all know, Grindr imposes a legal age restriction of 18. (I’m not sure why journalists covering the study are reporting that Grindr’s age requirement is 21.) Nevertheless, it is quite easy to lie about date of birth, as there is no real verification method.

The results of the study weren’t as dark and depressing as I had initially thought.

Macapagal, an assistant professor at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and lead author of the study told the Tribune that gay and bi teens are using apps like Grindr for a variety of reasons.

While sex is among them, many young gay and bi men use the app as means to meet other queer men as friends. Apps like Grindr, Scruff, and Hornet offer exposure to the local gay community.

"If you’re using something like Grindr, the likelihood of you having a sexual relationship with this person is higher," Macapagal said. "But we also found that although you might have had sexual relations with these folks, these folks might have turned into friends, they might have turned into boyfriends. So there is some evidence that youth are getting lots more out of these apps than just sexual relationships."

I don’t think anyone would argue that it’s bad that younger teens are using Grindr to meet friends. However, it seems like teens view Grindr (and other gay apps that cater to sex) as one of their only mediums to access friends and be part of the gay community, which is disheartening.

Without a doubt, teens are getting hit with a barrage of unsolicited ass and dick photos. They’re exposed to all of the femmephobic, sizeist, and racist crap that comes with the anonymity of sex apps. They’re being asked if they want to do meth (ParTy/Tina). Not to mention the legal implications of sending nudes while underage, or having sex with someone over the age of 18.

While I’m aware I’m sounding like a helicopter mother right now, perhaps even patronizing, I can’t help but think there has to be healthier spaces for LGBT teens to explore their sexuality, make other gay friends, and feel like part of the queer community. Ways that don’t use an online anonymous sex app.

And while I’m sure there are plenty of gay teens who can walk through the minefield that is Grindr, they shouldn’t have to.

So let’s use this research as a wakeup call, and help to create more spaces that are centered for and inclusive of LGBT teens.