Facebook Blamed For Rise In Syphilis (UPDATE)

UPDATE 10:32 AM ET 3/26/10: Facebook has dismissed the link between the Facebook and syphilis.

A statement released by the social networking claimed that 'The assertion that Facebook is responsible for the transmission of STDs is ridiculous,' adding, 'Facebook is no more responsible for STD transmission than newspapers are responsible for bad vision.'

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According to a report published in a slew of publications--including the Telegraph, Sun, and Daily Mail--British health experts have linked Facebook to a rise in syphilis, a sexually transmitted disease, in the UK.

The Telegraph explains the NHS' findings:

The virus has increased fourfold in Sunderland, Durham and Teesside, the areas of Britain where Facebook is most popular, because it has given people a new way to meet multiple partners for casual sexual encounters.

Professor Peter Kelly, director of public health in Teesside, said staff had found a link between social networking sites and the rise in cases, especially among young women.

'I don't get the names of people affected, just figures. And I saw that several of the people had met sexual partners through these sites,' Professor Kelly said. 'Social networking sites are making it easier for people to meet up for casual sex. There is a rise in syphilis because people are having more sexual partners than 20 years ago and often do not use condoms.'

Not so fast, says TechCrunch, which tells people to 'calm down,' because 'Facebook doesn't cause syphilis,' arguing that the NHS' facts are 'nebulous at best.'

A Facebook spokesperson told TechCrunch the link between Facebook and syphilis is 'ridiculous:'

While it makes for interesting headlines, the assertions made in newspaper reports that Facebook is responsible for the transmission of STDs are ridiculous, exaggerate the comments made by the professor, and ignore the difference between correlation and causation. As Facebook's more than 400 million users know, our Web site is not a place to meet people for casual sex - it's a place for friends, family and coworkers to connect and share.

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Comments

[bnyb]

07:32 PM on 03/26/2010

I went to uni at Durham - a quintessential university town complete with our own cathedral and castle. There's no way in heck that snooty Durham students would use Facebook to hook up. There are far better ways like midnight ghostwalk mixers and one quid cider nights at the local barn-club. Ah good times.

[naggingtree]

03:35 PM on 03/26/2010

Facebook doesn't cause syphilis. I cause syphilis! Through Facebook!

...seriously, though, when in $deity's name are people going to learn to STOP blaming the tool for the actions of the user (ha, ha, juvenile "tool" jokes)? seriously: take. responsibility.

[kikaidaboy]

11:03 AM on 03/26/2010

wow

[Crass Innuendo]

09:40 AM on 03/26/2010

Considering how popular 'Farmville,' an app involving among other things tending virtual livestock (including sheep), is on FB, I find myself rather disturbed.

[Higgs Boson]

03:12 AM on 03/26/2010

Do I need to put a condom on my computer ? Who knew ?

[vagabond78666]

06:53 PM on 03/25/2010

This just in,.. COMMUNICATING leads to STDs!!!!!

[dukeuch]

02:00 PM on 03/26/2010

Yeah, just imagine: If we could do away with email, telephones, US postal, telegraphs, telegrams, smoke signals, tom-tom drums, and semifor flags, we would eradicate STDs and we could have as much unprotected sex as we wanted safe form disease!

[Scalawag]

04:09 PM on 03/25/2010

Myspace will give you crabs.

[zombywulf]

03:56 PM on 03/25/2010

why aren't we getting those face book perks over here.

[hannibalBarca]

03:56 PM on 03/25/2010

Con...
Similar to FB, but with the acronym SB 'short for Silver Bullet'!
Lol

[levelshot]

04:02 PM on 03/25/2010

LOL!

[hannibalBarca]

03:53 PM on 03/25/2010

Heck, I guess with all that rain they get there over the pond, the people must have something to do...
Well, this is an opportunity to start a new social web, that can go hand n hand with Face Book.. I'm thinking something catchy like - instead of FB

[Norm]

03:26 PM on 03/25/2010

Did Jesse James visit the UK???? Certainly one possible variable in the data.

[Hoonieman]

03:38 PM on 03/25/2010

No, absolutely not. Jesse James (September 5, 1847 – April 3, 1882) was an American outlaw, gang leader, bank and train robber, and murderer from the state of Missouri and the most famous member of the James-Younger Gang.

you must educate yourself better in these matters..

[kcinpa]

03:51 PM on 03/25/2010

Or maybe Mr. Woody?

[Fredday]

03:19 PM on 03/25/2010

Yeah its facebook's fault. Certainly not the people spreading the disease. lol

[GraceFoster]

03:11 PM on 03/25/2010

How do people hook up with strangers on facebook? Other than friends of friends.

[chrisfrmchi4]

03:10 PM on 03/25/2010

i think its more craiglist than facebook.

[donaldinks]

02:47 PM on 03/25/2010

One Step Beyond.....

...Stupid...