The arrival of Uber in your city actually leads to a measurable spike in STIs.
April 16, 2026
Original Paper
Ridesharing, Sexually Transmitted Infections, and Risky Behavior
SSRN · 6463900
The Takeaway
It sounds like a joke, but the data is real: the introduction of UberX is associated with a significant increase in chlamydia cases. The mechanism is simple economics: by dramatically reducing the cost and 'friction' of transportation, ridesharing makes it easier for people to engage in risky sexual behavior. It’s a classic example of an 'unintended externality'—a convenience app changing the fundamental social and health geography of a city. This reveals that technology doesn't just change how we get to work; it changes the biological risks of our social lives. For public health officials, it means the next big epidemic might be driven by the ease of a $10 ride across town.
From the abstract
I examine how the introduction of the ridesharing service UberX affected sexually transmitted infections. Ridesharing reduces transportation costs, potentially affecting STI transmission through changes in risky sexual behavior and increased testing. Using the staggered rollout of UberX across metropolitan areas, I find chlamydia rates begin increasing about one year after ridesharing becomes available, growing by about 11 cases per 100,000 per year after UberX's entry. My estimates suggest Uber