Facebook Causes Syphilis — Not Likely, But Hooking Up Sure Is Easier
March 25, 2010 2 Comments
Syphilis cases have increased 400% in certain areas of England where Facebook use is 25% higher than the rest of the country.
Now public health is declaring Facebook as a cause for this. I don’t think so.
Professor Peter Kelly, director of public health in Teesside, claimed staff had found a link between social networking sites and the spread of the bacteria, especially among young women.
If hooking up is easier then STIs will spread. Facebook just happens to be one tool that people use for finding sex. If it wasn’t them it would be some other company.
A Facebook spokesman said: “The assertion that Facebook is responsible for the transmission of syphilis is ridiculous. Facebook is no more responsible for STD transmission than newspapers responsible for bad vision. Today’s reports exaggerate the comments made by the professor, and ignore the difference between correlation and causation.”
Of course Facebook is right. If you are the kind of person who insists on condoms with every sex act the amount of time you spend on Facebook will not make one iota of difference.
It’s not using the internet or Facebook that causes STIs but having sex without condoms!
If only the public health agencies in these areas would spend money on sexual health education and prevention instead of wasting time blaming Facebook maybe something good would come to this area.
Syphilis? Seriously? It’s the scurvy of sexual diseases. (Mick)
I’m not quite sure what you mean by that, but there has been a huge rise is syphilis in the last few years. It is definitely making a comeback. And that comeback is even more pronounced among gay men. (Mack)