# Shifting Norms and Value Conflicts: Exploring the Effects of HIV Status Disclosure Fields in Sex-Social Apps

## TL;DR

This study explores how HIV status disclosure fields in sex-social apps affect users' motivation to disclose their status, finding conflicting motivations and limited perceived optionality.

## Contribution

The paper introduces a hierarchical model of motivation to analyze how app design influences HIV disclosure behavior among MSM.

## Key findings

- Disclosure fields shift norms and limit perceived optionality for users.
- App design fails to support narrative disclosure, reducing motivation.
- Linking apps to public health narratives could improve disclosure and reduce stigma.

## Abstract

Sex-social applications used by men who have sex with men (MSM) often provide options to disclose HIV status to encourage more positive language and reduce stigma. Yet, little research has sought to understand how in-app disclosure fields impact on disclosure motivation. We interviewed MSM living with HIV and those who self-reported being HIV-negative (\documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\usepackage{wasysym}
\usepackage{amsfonts}
\usepackage{amssymb}
\usepackage{amsbsy}
\usepackage{mathrsfs}
\usepackage{upgreek}
\setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt}
\begin{document}$$N=27$$\end{document}N=27) in the UK and applied a hierarchical model of motivation to interpret our data. We found conflicting motivations for disclosure and point to HIV status disclosure fields having shifted disclosure norms, limiting their perceived optionality. Moreover, the pairwise and location-aware nature of these apps fails to support narrative forms of disclosure, reducing motivation. We highlight an opportunity to support users in disclosing by linking apps more explicitly to the social narratives developed through public health campaigns. This could reduce the required effort to explain “the science" behind different treatment and prevention options and promote a more consistent narrative.