So, fellow parents, what do you think of this?
MTV recently partnered with iCondom for an iCondom iPhone app. The app allows you to search, via GPS, the nearest place that sells condoms. However, most of the information about where to buy them is crowdsourced.
Now, I don't know about you, but I really hate having to think about my kids having sex. Of course, they don't have iphones, and being under 12, aren't thinking about sex. But I know (and dread!) that the way will come when they're old enough, and no matter how much great parenting I may do, or how many curfews, and rules I have, and how much education I give them, if they're going to have sex, ultimately, they'll have sex.
I just hope when they do they'll be old enough to handle it, and god-forbid, not pushes into it.
Obviously this app isn't aimed at 15 year-olds, but let's face it, with a 29 year old (now 30) woman in the UK lauded with the dubious title of the UK's youngest granny, we all know that 14 and 15-year-old can and do have sex.
And, okay, let's admit it, most of us are uncomfortable at the thought of our 17, 18 or even 19 year-old having sex. Actually, I know some fathers out there who'd be very happy if their daughters never had sex until marriage (and even then, it's not something they're going to be comfortable about, or want to think about).
The campaign is part of MTV's how to win a guy
n tips”>how to make him love you again tips
“http://foundation.staying-alive.org/en” target=”_blank”>Staying Alive campaign, which is focused on global youth HIV awareness and prevention.
The idea behind the app is to hopefully remove some of the social embarrassment about buying condoms, and hopefully get young adults to focus on safety first.
This campaign works in well with a new government health care plan that removes out of pocket expenses for female birth control, as its focus isn't on preventing pregnancy (like the former's), but on preventing HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
Mashables reported 'recent numbers from UNICEF estimate that 5 million 15- to 24-year-olds are living with HIV and another 2,500 young people are infected every day'.
If your kids are too young, or even if this is something you don't wish to tell your teens about (in fear it may encourage them to engage in sexual activities), it's still something parents should know about.
The app is free to download, and whether it's something that will be used or will work, will remain unclear for a long time. And, yes, condoms are available everywhere, but if our kids are gonna get out there and have sex, then I'm happier knowing they're being safe – protecting themselves from teen pregnancy as well as sexually transmitted diseases, and if something like this can help make teens and young adults less embarrassed about birth control, then hopefully it will make a big difference in their health and their lives.
