Two years we highlighted the UK government’s decision to shun social media and opt for magazines and television in educating the young of Britain about the dangers of Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea and other sexual diseases. This decision flew in the face of research showing that most young people took advice about sexual matters from their peers (=social networks) rather than from information campaigns of any kind. The decision has had disastrous consequences for many young Britons. A report now highlights that sexually transmitted diseases are running at their highest rates since the 1970′s, particularly amongst the under-25s.

[Update] More on the woeful uptake of Chlamydia testing. “The shortfall has been blamed on … problems engaging young people,” writes the BBC’s Nick Triggle.