Abstract
Due to multiple sexual partners and low rates of condom use, the HIV infection rate among MSM (men who have sex with men) is much higher than that of the general population. In order to analyze the characteristics of online activities of MSM, and to understand the evolution of their social networks, in this study we collect a comprehensive dataset, covering the period from January 2005 to June 2018, from the largest Chinese online community, Baidu Tieba. We build an online dating network for MSM-related individuals in the gay-bar community, and analyze the network from static and dynamic aspects. It is found that there is a strong homophily regarding the cities where users reside when developing interactions with others, and that most network measurements tend to be stable at the later stages of evolution, while the size of the largest community fluctuates. This is an indication that the network is formed of rapidly flexible interactions which changes quickly. In comparison with studies on heterosexual networks, we find that the MSM dating network shows differences in many aspects, such as the positive degree-degree correlation and high clustering coefficient, suggesting different thinking and measures should be taken in the policy making of public health management towards the MSM population.
Highlights
By 2019, 32 countries and regions around the world had legalized same-sex marriage [1,2].same-sex marriage is still not legally recognized in many countries, including China.Influenced by longstanding traditions such as ‘carrying on the family name’, homosexuality is still a sensitive issue in many countries or regions
In comparison with studies on heterosexual networks, we find that the MSM dating network shows differences in many aspects, such as the positive degree-degree correlation and high clustering coefficient, suggesting different thinking and measures should be taken in the policy making of public health management towards the MSM population
The MSM population refers to men who have sex with men [5,6,7], gay men, and some male bisexuals who have exhibit homosexual behavior, who currently account for approximately 5% of the total population in China [8,9]
Summary
By 2019, 32 countries and regions around the world had legalized same-sex marriage [1,2]. Research on the long-term evolutionary characteristics of MSM dating networks is rare To fill in this gap of knowledge, we collected a comprehensive dataset in this study, covering the period from January 2005 to June 2018, from the largest sub-community related to MSM topics, gay-bar, in the world’s largest Chinese community (i.e., Baidu Tieba). We built the online interacting network for users on gay-bar, to analyze the romantic relationships of a Chinese MSM population on the internet. We analyzed the static features of an online dating network for MSM—including nodal degree, edge weight, network communities, homophily, etc.—to investigate the social characteristics of the MSM population in the internet community. We find out the interaction features as well as the evolution characteristics of the online MSM group, which is helpful to understand their social behavior, and essential for establishing and improving the health management mechanism on the MSM population
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