Opinion: Why Should Dating Apps Prioritize Sexual Health?

Open your inbox these days, and alongside the usual updates about profile views and new matches, there’s something else creeping in — reminders to get tested and messages about safer sex practice. And honestly? It’s about time!

For those of you in the dating industry, you’ve probably spent over a decade revolutionizing how folks meet, flirt, and even fall into the dreaded situationship.

But when it comes to the realities of S-E-X — not the fantasy curated by clever bios and photo filters, but actual, physical intimacy — I’d say that most platforms have treated sexual health as an afterthought.

At best, safety during the birds and the bees is a footnote in the terms of service. At worst, it’s not mentioned at all.

The Leading STI Integration Features

But that may be changing, and the implications could be huge. Take WAX, for example — a social dating app that touts itself as the “f*cking app for open-minded people” — which recently announced a groundbreaking partnership with Sexual Health London.

The collaboration with SHL isn’t only interesting, but also makes WAX the first of its kind: a dating app integrating verified STI test results directly into its platform. 

That’s right. App users can now access their confidential, verified screening results directly in the WAX app and even choose to share them securely with matches. Rather than what I’ve done in the past, which is just sending a cool screenshot of my test results to a guy I am thinking of meeting up with tonight, I’d love the option to send my results directly from the app (and know that mine and theirs are verified!).

As a regular user, I think it’s a much-needed rethinking of what dating apps can do for their users, in and out of the bedroom, and other apps should follow suit, too. 

“Privacy is an absolute must with our users, and we know that WAX users value discretion when exploring connections,” says Emma Sayle, WAX’s co-founder and the founder of sex party Killing Kittens, “Integrating STI testing directly into WAX helps users to not only normalize conversations around sexual health and testing, but it allows users to have knowledge at their fingertips and be able to make informed choices.”

This isn’t just a smart move for public health, either. It’s a bold (and IMO, sexy!) market differentiator. Why wouldn’t apps help their users have safer, sexy nights out? After all, research shows that dating apps have led to more casual relationships and, in turn, a higher risk of testing positive for STIs. The good news, though?

Another study found that although users are more likely to test positive, they’re also 1.8 times more likely to get a screening for HIV or other STDs — which means they’d probably use this type of in-app feature more often.

The STI Conversation Remains Awkward for Many

Don’t forget, too, that talking about STI testing is still awkward for many. Even among progressive, sex-positive communities, like FEELD or the PURE dating app, there’s often still a lingering shame around the idea that having sex might come with risk.

The result? Silence, a lack of talking about testing, and in some cases, dishonesty about results. Even on Reddit, there have been countless stories of folks photoshopping test results or flat-out lying about their STI status, which is just flat out wrong.

If all dating apps integrated something like WAX’s partnership with SHL, awkwardness or lying or even silence around STIs wouldn’t even be an option. With verified results directly from the testing source, a feature like this doesn’t just remove ambiguity, but helps users feel a new level of trust in their partners and the app they’re using.

Suddenly, the conversation shifts from “Have you been tested?” to “Want to view my verified results?”

The same way that photo verification became a must-have feature after catfishing went viral, we may see a future where verified STI integration becomes just another expected part of the dating experience. It’s a trust signal. And eventually, maybe it will even become a standard for dating apps everywhere.

And that shift matters — a lot! If the platforms you work in are comfortable profiting from people’s desire, the loneliness epidemic, and even just the pursuit of hookups, shouldn’t we also feel slightly responsible for promoting safe, consensual sex? The answer feels obvious, but aside from WAX’s leap into this new area, many apps should take note. 

As more people, especially Gen Z, embrace open conversations around sex, consent, and health, the demand for transparency and care in digital dating will continue to grow. For sex-positive users, in particular, this kind of integration feels like a no-brainer.

If you’re already navigating conversations about boundaries, desires, and relationship dynamics, being able to discuss health and risk — openly and without judgment — is part of the deal. Apps that help facilitate that aren’t just useful — they could be so empowering.

Raising the Bar for Sexual Safety

Of course, even with a feature like this in place, not all users will feel comfortable sharing their results, even confidentially, and not all regions have access to free, fast STI testing like the SHL model in London.

For now, WAX’s integration is geographically limited, which means scaling this kind of feature will take time and coordination across health systems. But the framework is there, and so is the demand. So who says that can’t exist in other places in the world?

But, hey, other dating platforms need to play catch-up, now. IMO, this has only raised the bar in sexual safety. As a dating app user myself, the possibility of this being on my go-to app only makes me more excited to use it. 

So should dating apps preach sexual health? Yes. Loudly. And not just preach it, but practice it — with features, with partnerships that truly make for needed change, and of course, with cultural messaging that reflects the real lives of the real people using their apps day to day.

If you really want to make a wave in the next iteration of apps, don’t just focus on better algorithms or flashier profiles, but deeper care. Now that we know it can exist in this way, it’s up to the rest of the industry to decide: Are they here to hook people up, or help them stay healthy, while they hook up?