“Poz” in the age of technology: Technology, sex, and interventions to reduce risk for HIV positive men who have sex with men

Online and other forms of technology-assisted sex seeking are common among HIV positive men who have sex with men (MSM). Although many HIV positive MSM modify their sexual behaviors to reduce possible transmission after receiving an HIV positive diagnosis, some continue to engage in sexual risk. In this chapter, we describe the current state of research on technology use for sex seeking among HIV positive MSM, and technology-based interventions to address sexual risk taking among this population. The chapter opens with a brief history of research about online sex seeking, followed by a discussion of the methodological considerations in technology-based research. Next, online sex seeking and risks associated with this behavior are reviewed, with a focus on the psychological and social factors associated with online sexual encounters. We conclude with ways that technology has been used to provide prevention interventions to people living with HIV and consider areas for future directions.