Grindr has received substantial criticisms from activists after allegedly posting misleading information surrounding HIV medication.
The popular gay dating app posted a sponsored message from injury lawyers Pintas & Mullins, offering support for those who have had negative side affects from Truvada HIV Medication. However, critics have called these claims ‘baseless’, and have hit out at the dating platform for promoting the company.
Matthew Hodson, Executive Director of HIV advocacy group Aidsmap, told Pink News: “We know that Truvada is very safe. As well as being approved for PrEP it is a longtime mainstay of HIV treatment. As with any medication, a few people do have side effects, although these are generally manageable.
“We know that some people who are vulnerable to HIV are put off from a highly effective HIV prevention method by these kinds of adverts, causing greater harm than would arise from taking Truvada as PrEP.”
Truvada is an antiretroviral pill that should be taken daily to prevent HIV spreading.
The advert claims that Truvada, which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2004, could be linked with bone fractures, kidney failure, and even death.
Hodson is encouraging everyone to continue taking the drug if necessary, as he believes it would cause more harm than good if they stopped.
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