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Abstract
Unlike other studies investigating online sex-seeking and HIV risk, the e-male project is the first to investigate the social aspects of men who have sex with men’s (MSM’s) online practices in relation to HIV prevention. The study has a unique focus on the social capital associated with MSM’s online and offline social networks. Here we report preliminary findings from the study, focusing on a) characteristics of MSM’s online and offline friendships, b) the overlap between online and offline friendships and c) levels of trust, reciprocity and reliability (social capital) associated with these relationships. The implications of our findings for online intervention efforts are discussed.