My iPhone only stays alive for three hours because of my app use #gayboyproblems

Most people in this country own a computer. Most of those people have some form of social networking service, be it Facebook, twitter, myspace, or something else. On each of these sites, the human being sitting at the computer is being represented by whatever part of themselves he or she chooses to show on the website. As many people could tell you, there are social websites like these that are specifically for the purpose of finding a partner. Some famous ones include Match.com, EHarmony.com, and ChristianMingle.com. Some of these, such as the third listed, are created to appeal to a certain demographic, in this case, christians. However, most of these websites are only rarely used by young adults in college. There is one major exception to this standard: the gay community.

Whether a young, homosexual man is in the closet or is simply unhappy with the gay pool he has to choose from, it seems that many young gay men end up on gay dating sites. The two main ones, Manhunt and Grindr, are known for having "every gay" on them. Where in straight culture it would be strange to be on an online dating site, it is socially acceptable to be on one as a gay man. Go onto one of these sites, and I guarantee that you will find at least half of all of the gay people you know on one, and at least one person you did not know was gay on one as well.

Manhunt and Grindr. These are two social networking applications that are used primarily to help gay men find men with similar interests to them in their area. Both of these sites are primarily used through an iPhone app, and Grindr even allows you to calculate your proximity from the other people using the app. This past weekend, a friend was visiting from home, who came on campus, turned on his Grindr account, and turned to me in shock and whispered: "There is another gay person in the room!!"

So, is the internet adding convenience, or taking away from intimate connection? On one hand, to have a primary way of starting gay relationships be through internet dating sites is less intimate than other options. Usually these are all just used for sexual needs, and take away from potential, more romantic, encounters. On the other hand, for gay teen suicide is a big problem. The main reason for this is the feeling of being alone, that you are the only one around suffering in the way you are suffering, being tormented, then suicide can seem like a good option. Even if it is the ONLY positive that these apps provide, they let gay men (of any age) see other gay people around them without coming out. If nothing else, I think that these social "networking" sites can help people struggling to know that there are other gay people out there, and I think that that is why many young gay men turn to them.

But thats not good.... Gay dating sites shouldn't be the only thing standing in the way of suicide. In late 2011, a very young boy named Jamey Rodemeyer killed himself. Many celebrities, including one in music and one Youtube star, posted videos responding to his death.

There needs to be something done about this problem in America. So, gay dating sites are obviously not the solution to gay teen suicide, but I think that their high level of usage compared to straight men is an indicator that society needs to do something. So do something.

xoxo,

Sean Jesse Parker