Recommended Guidelines on Using Social Networking Technologies for HIV Prevention Research

Online social networking can be used as an innovative method of HIV prevention. As these technologies grow increasingly prevalent, standards must be established to ensure their safety and efficacy in research. This manuscript presents the field of ‘‘social networking for HIV prevention’’ by highlighting (a) the purpose of social networking technologies, (b) methods of using the technologies for HIV prevention research, and (c) recommended guidelines to improve data quality and study efficacy.