Durex launches a condom emoji so you can Netflix and chill responsibly

We have a slew of emojis for indirectly insinuating fornication, so why not have one that conveys safe sex?

That’s the impetus behind Durex’s new condom emoji campaign. Today, the condom maker is launching a condom emoji to keep safe sex on the minds of copulating youth.

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Durex’s campaign is partly due to a study that says 18-25 year olds aren’t concerned with safe sex. According to the study commissioned by Durex, more than a third of sexually active young people think that they will never be affected by HIV and have thus adopted a more lax attitude toward having unprotected sex. That behavior has had serious consequences, resulting in a rise in the number of HIV cases in certain areas of the United States.

The study also notes that the overwhelming majority of people in this demographic feel more comfortable talking about sex via emoji. No surprise there.

“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 (STIs), including HIV and AIDS,” said Durex marketing director Karen Chisholm in a statement.

The company plans to submit the condom emoji to the Unicode Consortium on December 1, which is also World AIDS Day.