The ever-increasing importance of the internet shapes all of our lives, independent of any one individual's knowledge, skills, or access. While some may stake the claim that the net inherently lends itself to social detachment and unhealthy behavior, we believe the web and other forms of computer technology need not be isolating, cold, impersonal, or destructive.

The internet provides an elaborate network of chat rooms, web sites, instant messaging, personal ads, blogs, and other means of making social connections.

This access affords men the opportunity to develop friendships, engage in dialogue, explore their desires, and arrange to meet each other for sex. In recent years, use of the internet for sexual hookups has increased, and gradually begun to replace other venues such as bars and sex clubs.

Almost two years ago, STOP AIDS Project re-tooled its prevention efforts and adopted an outreach approach based on 'sexual networks' - identifying the networks through which guys meet and hook up for sex. The internet component of our work, now known as dotMEN, strives to help gay, bi and trans men cruise and hook up online in safer, healthier ways.

We do this by evaluating and addressing aspects of internet use that become problematic for some men, including internet addiction, the connection between online cruising and substance use, personal safety when meeting up with strangers, isolation and depression some internet users experience, negotiating safer sex with sexual prospects, how and when to disclose your HIV status, and more.

Elements of the program include:

• Organizing off-line social events.
• Conducting online outreach.
• Hosting community forums for dialogue on timely topics.
• Finding creative ways to enable healthier cruising online.
• Encouraging men to get tested, know their HIV status, and communicate it effectively to others.
• Community Advisory Board to provide guidance and feedback.
• Recruitment and training of volunteers to help with our efforts.
• Structural interventions to facilitate healthy behavior in online cruising spaces.
• Development of social marketing campaigns to promote safer sex.