In anticipation of World AIDS Day 2015, condom manufacturer Durex wants to promote safe sex for HIV awareness with the world's first-ever condom emoji.
In a press release released by the company on Nov. 19, Durex emphasized the crucial nature of creating a text-ready ideogram, and how doing so could reach an important demographic in conveying the importance of how STIs and HIV can be prevented via contraception: young people.
"Emojis are a crucial part of how young couples connect and research suggests that the creation of official safe sex emojis are vital to inserting messages around protection into their sexual conversations," read the company's official statement.
The use of a condom emoji could also have another integral purpose: de-stigmatizing discourse centered around sexual health practices, which some can find unsettling or embarrassing to publicly speak about. According to a survey conducted by the company, over 80 percent of participants between the ages of 18 to 25 reported that they used emojis in discussions about sex.
"Emojis of this sort will enable young people to overcome embarrassment around the discussion of safe sex, encourage conversation and raise awareness of the importance of using condoms in protecting against sexually transmitted infections," added Karen Chishom, Durex's marketing director.
To make its campaign go viral, Durex has come up with a hashtag #CondomEmoji to spread its message and cause.
However, why is a hashtag campaign so crucial to the brand's message instead of more traditional outlets like television?
"Many young people have gained their sexual knowledge through their own sexual activity and searching the Internet," said Dr. Mark McCormack, the co-director for the Centre for Sex, Gender and Sexualities at Durham University, U.K.
He added that, while it's important for monogamous couples to still discuss sexual health and STI prevention, it's equally as imperative for sexually active singles to speak up about their sexual histories with new partners.
"While participants [of Durex's survey] generally felt able to discuss safe sex within their romantic relationships, there was more uncertainty with new or potential partners," he remarked. Inasmuch to this, a condom emoji could provide a stress-free communicative medium in the sphere of HIV and STI prevention.
Via: Businesswire
