Chinese gay dating app Blued is halting new user registration for a week, it said on Sunday, following media reports that underage users caught HIV after going on dates set up via the world’s largest networking app for the LGBT community. China has a vibrant lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender scene (LGBT) scene, though activists say conservative attitudes among some groups in society have prompted occasional government clampdowns. On Saturday, citing academic research, financial magazine Caixin said juveniles were heavily involved in the gay dating app, where some teenagers had even hosted livestreaming. It added that many gay teenagers had unprotected sex through the app and contracted HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Blued, which was launched in 2010 and now boasts 40 million registered users, is backed by state-run media Beijing News.

Source: The Hindu January 06, 2019 15:11 UTC