Factors Influencing Trust and Engagement with Digital Sexual Health Platforms Among Young Adults: A Qualitative Study

Young adults face significant barriers to accessing traditional sexual health services, including stigma, confidentiality concerns, and limited service availability. Digital sexual health platforms offer scalable, private alternatives, yet engagement remains suboptimal. Trust has been identified as a critical determinant of engagement with digital health services, but limited empirical research has explored what specifically drives trust in digital sexual health contexts among young adults. This qualitative study aimed to explore the factors that influence young adults' trust in and willingness to engage with digital sexual health information and services. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 young adults aged 18–25 years. Participants were recruited through university networks and social media. Interviews explored perceptions of digital sexual health platforms, factors influencing trust, privacy concerns, and preferences for service design. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis, guided by the trust framework proposed by Woodward, Buckley, Dean, and Fowler (2025). Four overarching themes were identified: (1) Credibility Signals and Source Verification, encompassing the importance of institutional endorsement and visible expert credentials; (2) Anonymity and Privacy Assurance, reflecting the centrality of perceived confidentiality to engagement; (3) Peer Validation and Social Proof, highlighting the role of peer reviews and community endorsement; and (4) Cultural Sensitivity and Inclusivity, capturing the need for non-judgmental, contextually relevant content. Trust in digital sexual health platforms is multifaceted, shaped by credibility cues, privacy architecture, social validation, and cultural relevance. Findings offer actionable recommendations for designing trustworthy digital sexual health interventions and highlight the need for co-design approaches that center young adults' lived experiences.