The Bloomberg administration recently launched a free app called Teen in NYC Protection+, which provides information on health services for teens.

The app — funded by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene — focuses on keeping teens informed about sexual health.

“We want to make sure that no teen who’s sexually active doesn’t know they can go for services to protect themselves and stay healthy,” health department assistant commissioner Deborah Kaplan told CBS.

The app has three sections: where to go, what to get and what to expect.

In the where to go section, teens can find a local clinic that offers sexual health services such as tests for HIV, STDs and pregnancy. They can input their

address as well as the specific services and birth control methods they are looking for.

The what to get section provides specific information about different types of birth control from the patch to the pill. The information includes how to use each method, if it protects against STDs and if you need to see a health care provider to obtain it.

Lastly, the what to expect section features videos of pregnant teens and provides viewers an example of what it is like to visit a clinic. It also offers the option to share its content on Facebook.

Parents may be upset that their kids now have free access to all of this sexual health information, but this app is protected by New York State law. The app is considered an addition to the sexual health curriculum already provided in public schools, and the law states that teens have the legal right to get sexual health services without the permission or knowledge of parents or guardians.

The app has not been as controversial as New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s recent anti-teen pregnancy campaign of subway ads that feature crying babies and facts about teen pregnancy, and it remains unclear which method will be more effective.

Sally Guttmacher, a Steinhardt professor of public health, thinks the app is not harmful.

“You have to try a variety of strategies with teens, and this one seems reasonable, as it will reach some teens and make them think,” Guttmacher said. “It looks like really useful information for sexually active teens to have.”

Niobe Way, a Steinhardt professor of applied psychology, stated that there are better ways than an app to educate youth about sexual health.

“The city should be dealing with the problem of teen pregnancy through improving the quality of schools so girls’ and boys’ minds are genuinely engaged,” Way said. “The app will not likely be a very effective way to prevent teen pregnancy. However, providing health information to teenagers is always a good thing.”

Lesley Greenberg is a staff writer. Email her at [email protected].