Gamifiying Safe Sex: Planned Parenthood’s QR Condom Campaign

Safe sex is a no-brainer—you don’t know your partner, you use some form of protection, such as condoms. But only 1 of 4 vaginal dalliances actually did so according to a 2010 report. And that, folks, is just plain sad.

QR Condoms

In order to get those numbers higher, Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest developed an ingenious plan to promote condom use: QR codes. QR codes are scannable black and white images that can be read by most smart phones. By scanning PPGNW’s QR codes located on their free condoms, users are taken to the Where Did You Wear It? site. Which has been dubbed the “FourSquare of Sex”.

The Where Did You Wear It? campaign was held during National Condom Week 2012, the same week as Valentine’s Day, and was aimed at 20-somethings and college students. Planned Parenthood handed out 55,000 condoms on campuses and universities. After scanning the QR code on the condom wrapper, users were taken to the mobile site where they could check in with their location, gender, age, then leave a comment.

The color scheme has lots to be desired. It’s reminiscent of a high school locker all decked out for spirit day, but is user friendly and offers plenty of vital info, such as where to get more condoms and why wearing a condom is important to begin with.

Giggity Giggity Gamification

Planned Parenthood states their campaign a success, with over 48 of 50 states checking in. Granted that’s no guarantee the condoms were actually used, but it’s an encouraging sign people are paying attention and at least awareness is being raised if nothing else. And if you’re the competitive type, gamifying safe sex is a win-win. Finding out your neighbor is having more safe sex than you no doubt puts you in the mind to compete. Well, then, game on.