Did you know that the number of syphilis cases are on the rise in the U.S.? Some public health officials think it's because of Grindr, and a host of other hook up apps like Tinder, Hinge and OkCupid. The reason for it? They make it easier to find people to have sex with. That makes STDs more prevalent apparently.

In places like New York, public health officials are drawing a correlation between syphilis spread and apps by asking newly infected people whether they use hook up apps to meet sexual partners. The report doesn't reveal any numbers, but it does raise some eyebrows.

"It is alarming to see the number of people who use these apps," said Dr. Cynthia Morrow, Onondaga County's health commissioner, told Syracuse.com. "They are significantly contributing to the spread of sexually transmitted disease."

So does using hook up apps mean you're likely to get an STD? The fact is you're more likely to contract one if you're having sex with a lot of strangers and hook up apps enable that, but that doesn't mean you should avoid them at all. The common sense here would be to use protection.

It would be unreasonable to blame it all on hook up apps.