"A lot of people come here for that, so we want them to practice safer sex."
The application, available for download on the iPhone and Android phones, taps into the city's database of over 1,000 different locations in the area which offer free condoms. The app uses GPS technology or an address input to give users directions to the nearest five places in the city that are giving out free condoms.
The city is rolling out the application on Valentine's Day, which also happens to be National Condom Awareness Day. For the past five years, the city has been giving out free condoms at an average of 3 million a month.
New York City has come under criticism in the past for its condom distribution program, especially from parents of younger children who claim the program encourages people to have sex.
"We're not promoting sex, we're promoting safer sex," Sweeney said.
"In New York City and around the country, adolescents and pre-adolescents have sex whether you give them condoms or not," she said.
New York City Launches Mobile Phone App for Free Condoms
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