Amid the government's attempts to eradicate media unsuitable for youngsters, a popular radio station has come up with a matchmaking service.

A Srinakharinwirot University second-year student, who studied the issue of inappropriate media, said the dating service launched by a famous music station in Bangkok had proved popular.

The service is provided from 6am to 9am, with men and women who want to find a new boyfriend or girlfriend calling the station and describing the characteristics of their ideal partner.

The programme then lets the couple talk to each other, said the female humanities student, who asked not to be named.

The activity has been so popular that the radio producers launched the service on a website. They let people post their photographs and try to match them.

After that, the producers arrange to let the couple meet at a hotel, the student said. When a couple feel comfortable together they can continue the relationship on their own.

Deputy Social Development and Human Security Minister Poldej Pinpratheep said he was not aware of such a programme and would investigate it.

"I never imagined there was such a thing," he said.

A male student from the same faculty, who had also studied the issue and asked not to be named, said the government could not eradicate all websites providing pornography or content improper for the young.

The authorities cannot do the job effectively as they do not know what is going on but simply order bans, he said.

"No matter if people find mates through websites or find new friends through radio programmes as is currently popular, or see mates face to face, problems can occur if they are careless and ignorant. Not just youths, countless adults have been trapped by this way of finding dates," he said.

To solve the problem, people should be aware of what is going on in society and learn to protect themselves, he said.

On Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister and Social Development and Human Security Minister Paiboon Wattanasiritham inspected and ordered the seizure of pornographic comic books at the National Book Fair.

The Culture Ministry and Information and Communications Technology Ministry are trying to block an overseas website allegedly showing live lewd acts by webcam users that are being widely accessed in Thailand.

Mayuree Sukyingcharoenwong

The Nation