An unusual marketing campaign by Canadian Alberta Health Services educates youth about the risks of syphillis by using a fake STD dating site, displaying 'members' with sores and rashes looking for casual sex.
PlentyOfSyph (a play on popular free dating site Plenty of Fish) looks like a normal dating site until you try to sign up. With slick, tongue-in-cheek videos and ads, 'members' prominently display their stage of syphilis and what they want in a sex partner, as well as unsafe sex practices and what symptoms they currently struggle with. The first tip-off for me was that only Albertans can sign up, as well as the lowered acceptable age range for members of 16 and up. It didn't take me long however to determine that the site was more of a public service announcement than legitimate, as evidenced by the popup when I tried to contact someone: "Interesting choice; you've selected a secondary stager. Too bad you won't have a choice of where the wart-like rashes will pop up on your body."
What do you think about health organizations using fake dating sites as a means to connect with youth to discuss casual dating and the risks of unprotected sex? Does it dilute the message from real STD dating sites that want to serve the market with dignity and respect?
Related: Would You Date Someone With an STD?, What Are The Symptoms of Syphilis?, Safe Sex Passport, STD Chats.
No comments:
Post a Comment