STD Test Results by Txt

A  London Clinic has began sending STD test results out via text message. It’s a practice gaining in popularity, that’s part of an effort to encourage young people to come in and get tested.

And, as Gizmodo points out, the quick and impersonal nature of a text message could be ideal in such a sensitive situation:

Despite how trivializing this sounds, it could actually be an attractive option for some. Phone calls involve direct interaction with another person about an extremely embarrassing subject, and a physical letter can take quite a while—again, not exactly appropriate for the, uhh, urgent nature of the situation. Here, technology might actually make the whole process a little less intimidating for young folk (philanderers and strumpets, every last one of them!), but it’s not a totally shame-free—the NHS has assured that there are still actual humans sending out the texts.

Gizmodo: “London Clinics Begin Sending STD Test Results via Text”