New Zealand advert featuring nude ‘porn actors’ praised for promoting internet safety
Video part of campaign to help children navigate ‘choppy waters’ of online world
A New Zealand government advert featuring actors playing nude porn stars has been widely praised for promoting internet safety, after the video went viral online.
The unusual advert, part of the government’s Keep It Real Online campaign, shows two actors playing naked porn stars called Sue and Derek.
The pair turn up at a mother’s front door to tell her that her son has been watching them online on his laptop among other devices, before warning her that he might not know how relationships actually work in real life.
Sue tells the horrified mother, Sandra, who is played by the comedian Justine Smith: “We usually perform for adults but your son’s just a kid. He might not know how relationships actually work.”
After they admit they “just get straight to it” and do not talk about consent in their porn shoots, Derek adds: “I’d never act like that in real life.”
The young son then sees them at the door and drops a bowl of cereal after recognising them.
A narrator finishes the advert by saying: “Many young Kiwis are using porn to learn about sex. Keep it real online.” She then gives the address of an advice website.
The video came after a report was published last year which found that teenagers in New Zealand use the internet as their main way to learn about sex.
Hilary Ngan Kee, a spokeswoman for Motion Sickness, the agency behind the advert campaign, said: “Parents should feel confident when dealing with these issues… at the end of the day, they’re the best person to keep their child safe.
“You don’t need to have all the answers, but supporting your child and giving that ‘adult’ guidance as they navigate the choppy waters of the online world will really make a difference,” she added.
The video has proved a hit on social media and has been viewed more than eight million times on Twitter.
Social media users reacted positively to the advert, with one writing on Twitter: “The kiwis have done it again. Brilliant, funny and honest ads about #esafety. I love how they empower parents to switch on their skills, not simply switch off the device.”
Another Twitter user commented simply that "New Zealand is brilliant", while a third described the video as an “awesome public service announcement”.
The Keep It Real Online webpage also offers advice to parents and caregivers on online bullying and grooming, so that they can keep their children and young people safe.
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