“They're the modern-day gay bar”: Exploring the uses and gratifications of social networks for men who have sex with men

There currently exist many mobile social networks for men who have sex with men (MSM), from stand-alone applications like Grindr and Jack'd, to the on-the-go versions of established websites such as Adam4Adam or Manhunt. It has become increasingly common for MSM to seek out others by means of online social networks, and for a variety of purposes. This paper explores the motivations for MSM-specific social networking use, and the sought gratifications associated with this type of computer-mediated interpersonal interaction. In an online survey yielding 143 participants, men were asked their thoughts about social networking phone applications for gay, bisexual, and other MSM. Using these data, seven categories of sought gratifications were identified: safety, control, easiness, accessibility, mobility, connectivity, and versatility.