2026-02-20
Safe Sex 2.0: which digital tools actually work?
General Medicine
By Ana Espino | Published on February 20, 2026 | 3 min read
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV, remain a major public health concern among young people aged 15 to 24 years. This population is particularly vulnerable due to frequent and often insufficiently anticipated risky sexual behaviors. Despite prevention campaigns, condom use remains inconsistent, and traditional awareness strategies—such as sex education classes, printed materials, or one-on-one counseling—struggle to adapt to the digital habits and expectations of this highly connected generation. Persistently high STI rates among youth highlight the limitations of these conventional approaches in terms of reach, engagement, and personalization.
In this context, Digital Health Interventions (DHIs)—including mobile applications, websites, interactive platforms, and phone-based messaging—have emerged as innovative tools to promote safer sexual behaviors by leveraging technologies already embedded in young people’s daily lives.
The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the relative effectiveness of different DHI formats on preventive behaviors (notably condom use) and sexual health outcomes (STI/HIV incidence), using a Bayesian network meta-analysis to rank their relative impact.
A total of 24 randomized controlled trials involving 20,134 participants aged 15 to 24 years were included. These studies compared various DHI modalities with traditional non-digital interventions (face-to-face counseling, printed materials, etc.). Interventions were categorized into four groups: mobile applications, telephone-based interventions (SMS or calls), static websites, and interactive online platforms.
The main findings indicate that telephone-based interventions significantly improved condom use at last sexual intercourse compared with non-digital approaches. For consistent condom use, static websites and interactive online platforms outperformed telephone-based interventions. Mobile applications ranked highest overall for increasing condom use frequency, although the estimates lacked precision.
Regarding STI incidence (including HIV), the data paradoxically suggest slightly lower incidence rates with non-digital interventions compared with certain static web-based interventions. This finding indicates that self-reported behavioral changes do not always translate into measurable reductions in infection rates.
Digital + prevention: a winning combination ?
STIs, particularly HIV, remain a major threat among young people, driven by frequent risk behaviors. The current challenge lies in the limited ability of traditional strategies to produce sustained behavioral change in a hyperconnected population. This study aimed to compare the impact of different digital health interventions on sexual health prevention among youth. The results support the relative effectiveness of mobile applications and interactive platforms in promoting protective behaviors.
However, several limitations warrant further research. Future studies should include higher-quality comparative trials, long-term assessments of behavioral outcomes, analysis of user engagement mechanisms, and evaluation of disparities in access across social and cultural contexts. The challenge will be to design personalized, inclusive digital interventions that are effectively integrated into existing prevention pathways.
Read next: The pill, myths & realities: what you’re not (often) told
About the author – Ana Espino
PhD in Immunology, specialized in Virology
As a scientific writer, Ana is passionate about bridging the gap between research and real-world impact. With expertise in immunology, virology, oncology, and clinical studies, she makes complex science clear and accessible. Her mission: to accelerate knowledge sharing and empower evidence-based decisions through impactful communication.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV, remain a major public health concern among young people aged 15 to 24 years. This population is particularly vulnerable due to frequent and often insufficiently anticipated risky sexual behaviors. Despite prevention campaigns, condom use remains inconsistent, and traditional awareness strategies—such as sex education classes, printed materials, or one-on-one counseling—struggle to adapt to the digital habits and expectations of this highly connected generation. Persistently high STI rates among youth highlight the limitations of these conventional approaches in terms of reach, engagement, and personalization.
In this context, Digital Health Interventions (DHIs)—including mobile applications, websites, interactive platforms, and phone-based messaging—have emerged as innovative tools to promote safer sexual behaviors by leveraging technologies already embedded in young people’s daily lives.
The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the relative effectiveness of different DHI formats on preventive behaviors (notably condom use) and sexual health outcomes (STI/HIV incidence), using a Bayesian network meta-analysis to rank their relative impact.
Which DHI makes a difference ?
A total of 24 randomized controlled trials involving 20,134 participants aged 15 to 24 years were included. These studies compared various DHI modalities with traditional non-digital interventions (face-to-face counseling, printed materials, etc.). Interventions were categorized into four groups: mobile applications, telephone-based interventions (SMS or calls), static websites, and interactive online platforms.
The main findings indicate that telephone-based interventions significantly improved condom use at last sexual intercourse compared with non-digital approaches. For consistent condom use, static websites and interactive online platforms outperformed telephone-based interventions. Mobile applications ranked highest overall for increasing condom use frequency, although the estimates lacked precision.
Regarding STI incidence (including HIV), the data paradoxically suggest slightly lower incidence rates with non-digital interventions compared with certain static web-based interventions. This finding indicates that self-reported behavioral changes do not always translate into measurable reductions in infection rates.
Digital + prevention: a winning combination ?
STIs, particularly HIV, remain a major threat among young people, driven by frequent risk behaviors. The current challenge lies in the limited ability of traditional strategies to produce sustained behavioral change in a hyperconnected population. This study aimed to compare the impact of different digital health interventions on sexual health prevention among youth. The results support the relative effectiveness of mobile applications and interactive platforms in promoting protective behaviors.
However, several limitations warrant further research. Future studies should include higher-quality comparative trials, long-term assessments of behavioral outcomes, analysis of user engagement mechanisms, and evaluation of disparities in access across social and cultural contexts. The challenge will be to design personalized, inclusive digital interventions that are effectively integrated into existing prevention pathways.
Read next: The pill, myths & realities: what you’re not (often) told
About the author – Ana Espino
PhD in Immunology, specialized in Virology
As a scientific writer, Ana is passionate about bridging the gap between research and real-world impact. With expertise in immunology, virology, oncology, and clinical studies, she makes complex science clear and accessible. Her mission: to accelerate knowledge sharing and empower evidence-based decisions through impactful communication.
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