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Published on September 22, 2007

 While explicit sexual content is rightly censored out of TV broadcasts, it's amusing that advertisements promoting the use of condoms should have caused such offence - to the point that someone actually filed a complaint with the Public Health Ministry, requesting an outright ban on the ads. 

One of the ads depicts a man looking sheepish about getting condoms from a clinic, while another features a man feeling insecure about buying condoms at a convenience store. When both men finally muster the courage to ask for what they want, a slogan - "Don't be shy to carry condoms" pops up. The ads are hilarious!

Never mind the fact that teens are having sex at a younger age, and never mind that they don't really use condoms, some people still argue that a commercial like this, suggesting the slightest hint of sex, should be banned. These people fear it will send the wrong signal to youth, prompting them to engage in pre-marital sex.

Are teenagers that gullible? Seriously, can one's sexual desire be aroused simply by watching a funny condom ad? The fact is, sex among young teens has been a growing trend over the past 10 years. Certainly there are many factors contributing to it, the least of which comes from a specific TV ad.  

A survey of Mathayom 5 students in 24 provinces last year saw a jump in the number of both male and female students admitting to having had sexual experiences. The figure for boys jumped from 10 per cent a decade ago to 21 per cent, while the number for girls rose from 4 per cent to 12 per cent. More shocking was the finding that only 48 per cent of male students used condoms during their first sexual intercourse. These figures clearly reflect a limited understanding of safe sex. Youths are putting themselves at high risk of unwanted pregnancies, and of contracting venereal diseases or, worse, HIV/Aids.

Thailand was once hailed as a success story in containing the spread of HIV/Aids. Going back more than a decade, advertisements to inform people about HIV/Aids prevention, including the use of condoms, were aired regularly. Posters, banners and radio jingles were everywhere, thanks largely to "Mr Condom", Meechai Viravaidya. The campaign worked. Awareness was instilled in the public mind.

Today, the rates of HIV/Aids are creeping back up because of the lack of continuous campaigning. To think it is no longer a threat would be a grave mistake. Youngsters today, who never experienced the advertisements of the 1980s and 1990s, might not realise what health risks they face if they don't use condoms.

Why are some adults treating sex as if it's an alien issue? And why must the subject of sex be reserved for adults only? What makes anyone think that teenagers are not knowledgeable about, and aware of, their own sexuality?

Of course, no one wants to encourage early sex amongst teens, but to take offence at condom ads is akin to rejecting the truth about what's going on in society today. Youths should be exposed to sex education early on and not be left in the dark just because the previous generation might deem it as inappropriate subject matter. But displeasure over the TV ads does bring sex education into focus again. And it's about time. Have parents tried harder over the years to teach their children, or do they shy away every time they're asked? Have schools provided sufficient information concerning sex and all related issues?

What parents and teachers should have done is to make full use of the ads - that is, to seize the chance to talk openly with their kids or students. Whether or not adults do this, teenagers will still discuss - and engage in - sex with their friends anyway.  

Violent soap operas that include rape scenes are a lot more troubling. Has this type of thing become so routine that we regard it as normal? These daily two-hour soaps surely have a greater impact on viewers than a mere 30-second advert. How come no complaints are made? And please, let's not be hypocritical and act as if sex is a dirty topic - especially when sexual services can be found on almost any street corner. There's nothing to feel ashamed of, except the fact that some Thais do not know how to have safe sex. And that is terribly wrong.

I applaud the effort of the creators to make their advertisements humorous and straight to the point. Hopefully, there'll be more campaigns to educate the public - teenagers and adults alike - on sexual health issues. 

For now, don't pull the ads!

  

By Veenarat Laohapakakul