Implications of Social Media on African American College Students' Communication Regarding Sex Partners.
Introduction The advent of mobile phone technologies and the emergence of new social media websites created new modes for our social interactions, wherever we are, whenever we want, and with whomever we like to reach. Social media "are computer mediated tools, which allow people to create, share, and exchange information, pictures, videos, in virtual communities and networks" (Wikipedia, http: en. Wikipedia.org) This new phenomenon has positive features that allow individuals to interact socially and to conduct business. In addition, it affects the way we share and exchange valuable health information. Nonetheless, there are dark sides to this social phenomenon; easy access to the sexual partners online, and established sexual relationships with those individuals without the knowledge of their past sex life. Studies have examined the use of online sources by individuals seeking sexual partners (risky behavior) and possibilities of contracting Sexually Transmitted Diseases, STDs/HIV (Klein, H. 2013; Chan, J. Ghose, A. 2012; Garofalo, G. et al. 2007; Bolding, G. 2006; Bull, S. S. et al, 2004; McFarlane, M. Bull, S.S. Rietmeijer, C. 2002; Bull, S.S. McFarlane, M. 2000) Several research studies investigated application of mobile phones text messaging and online social media tools, for the purpose of health education, and increased awareness and knowledge on STDs /HIV (Gabarron, E. et al. 2012; Divecha, Z. et al. 2012; Newbold, K. B. Campos, S. 2011; Rouner, D. Lindsey, R. 2006) This study concentrates solely on African American college students. It examines whether this population utilizes social networking websites to find sexual partners and romantic dates or uses cell phones' text messaging to facilitate dating or sexual relationships. Furthermore, it investigates whether the participants employ these online social community resources, for awareness and education about STDs and HIV/AIDS. Social networking websites are online clusters of people, where family, friends, acquaintances, coworkers, and people who share similar interests, can interact with one another. These include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, MySpace, LinkedIn, Foursquare, blogs, e cards, Pinterest, and Flickr, which provide multiple forms of communication channels to their members, and enable users to communicate with their own circle of friends and affiliates (CDC, social media toolkit, 2011) Concerning mobile phone technologies and text messaging, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2011) data showed that 90% of adults in the United States utilize mobile services, which allow them to share/ exchange health related information through text messages, mobile websites, and mobile applications. Literature Review Recent statistics presented by Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicated that almost 20 million people in the United States are diagnosed with Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) every year, with an estimated 110 million more Americans of both genders already being infected. The cost to the healthcare system is about 16 billion a year. The eight common sexually transmitted infections in the United States are Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Hepatitis B virus (HBV) Herpes Simplex Virus type 2 (HSV 2) Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Syphilis, and Trichomoniasis. Some of these STIs can become serious health issues if they are not treated. Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infects almost 79 million Americans and the most infected are young adults. In addition, 14 million new cases reported every year. HPV infection is tied to cervical cancer (CDC, Genital HPV Fact Sheet, 2013) A number of researchers indicated that in recent years there has been an outbreak of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) linked to the social media (Kreston, R. 2013) The Internet has made it easy and convenient for individuals to find sex partners, and practice risky sexual behavior that increases the possibly of spreading STDs and the HIV virus (Klein, H.