Methods.  From 11/00 – 5/01, we surveyed 585 YGM in 3 Southwestern communities about their Internet use and sexual activity.  

Results.  Demographics:  Mean age = 27.  Racial/ethnic breakdown: 67% white, 24% Latino, 4% Asian/Pacific Islander, 3% Black, and 2% Native American. Eighty percent reported being HIV-negative, and 7% HIV-positive. Among men with non-primary partners in the previous 2 months, 33% reported unprotected anal intercourse (UAI).  Internet Use:  91% reported Internet use in the previous 2 months. Thirty-one percent had in-person sex with a partner met online*, and 38% of them reported UAI with these partners.  Associations:  YGM who spent the most time online reported the most sexual partners and a greater likelihood of UAI (Table 1). Men with inconsistent online communication about safer-sex issues were more likely to report UAI than men who always or never communicated about them (Table 2).

Table 1.  Sexual behavior by time spent online*

	Hours online/week
	0-3	4-8	9-15	16+	p
# sex partners (mean)	3.1	3.5	4.1	5.5	.006
UAI w/non-primary partners	26.7%	27.0%	32.2%	46.7%	.011
n	105	102	92	93

Table 2.  Percentage of YGM reporting UAI w/Internet partners by communication frequency*

	Online communication frequency
	Never	Sometimes	Always	p
Disclosed HIV status	33%	76%	26%	<.001
Learned partners’ HIV status	35%	76%	24%	<.001
Discussed safer sex issues	36%	69%	32%	.024

*Excluding YGM in monogamous relationships.

Conclusions.  The relationship between YGM’s Internet use and sexual activity warrants further research to develop and test online HIV prevention interventions, especially for frequent Internet users.