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Serious Stuff
Sex education on your cell phone
PC Magazine Spring 2007
By Daniela Guevara
Students are able to receive sex education on their cell phones. Talking about sex can be a complicated subject for some people, and that is why the San Francisco Department of Public Health came up with the idea of facilitate the question-answer process for the youth through one of the most popular devices now days, cell phones.
The text-messaging program is targeted for young people ages 12-24. Based on a program from London, Brook Advisory Centers, teenagers are able to receive information by sending the word SEXINFO to the number 917-957-4280 from a Metro PCS phone or to 61827 from any other phone company.
The process is an intimate way to get sex education without having to go through an embarrassing process, which many young people decide to avoid by never asking. “A lot of teenagers don’t go to clinics, and they’re afraid to ask questions. Text messaging it’s no one’s business but yours,” said Michelle Irvin, a peer educator with the San Francisco Department of Public Health.
The messages are written in a form teenagers are familiar with, such as “If u have sex u can get an STD + not know it. Chlamydia, gonorrhea=no symptoms most of the time. Drop in get chcked Free.” Following the message there is most of the time a phone number or website lined for teenagers to get more information or help on the subject. After texting SEXINFO, the person receives a list of questions he or she might have. The back and forth process is like having a conversation with another friend. It is confidential and other than the charges applied by your phone company, no extra charges are applied.
“They don’t have to talk to someone if they think they’re pregnant or if their condom broke. It’s confidential, so no one has to feel embarrassed or humiliated,” explained Irvin when talking about the different types of questions they answer. Questions range from STDs to what to do if you feel pressured to have sex. The health department found a way to communicate with young people in more intimate and convenient way.
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