Best tweets on government banning condom ads during daytime
India is a weird country. It has widespread illiteracy and ever wider spread anxiety - about anything its government considers anti-sanskari.
When the world is heading towards making Bluetooth-connected condom rings that can measure one's thrust, India’s ministry of information and broadcasting decided that it is important that the airing of suggestive condom ads be limited between 10pm and 6am, citing that some of the condom commercials have a tendency to be indecent and that it may affect children. How, a condom ad would affect a child is not something one can fathom, but if the ministry says so, then it must be true.
As it happens, this move was triggered by a request from the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) – a self-regulatory, voluntary, non-governmental organisation of the advertising industry in India – which sought suggestion from the ministry on whether or not it should be possible to restrict the telecast of condom advertisements with “explicit sexual content” between 11pm and 5am, something they feel is outside of what is considered as “family time” viewing, after numerous complaints from sanskaari viewers.
To the outsider, a move like this would seem crazy. After all, India is the second most populous country in the world. In fact, within the next seven years, India is set to overtake China to become the world's most populous country. But something as absurd as this is just a regular Tuesday in a country where a former health minister suggested that fidelity instead of condoms would be a better measure to prevent the spread of AIDS.
The levels of sanskar in the government should never be underestimated. But thankfully, folks on social media seem rational enough to feel exasperated at the government’s short-sightedness.
India is more upset that kids have to find out about condoms and safe sex than about rape and harassment. No wonder the latter is more socially acceptable.
— Sheena (@weeny) December 11, 2017
Condoms never stood a chance with this govt after they discovered them at JNU.
— Ankur Bhardwaj (@Bhayankur) December 12, 2017
Such ads need to be played MORE between 6am-10pm. You rather have kids avoid unwanted pregnancy by wearing condoms than be bothered about sensual content. Kids have enough access to sexual content on the net. Censorship cannot be senseless or democratic https://t.co/MNWu4W1HCV
— Vineet jain (@vineetjaintimes) December 12, 2017
If condoms were around, the Virani family would have been way smaller. pic.twitter.com/Ufs39SZabu
— All India Bakchod (@AllIndiaBakchod) December 12, 2017
If Condoms were not being treated as taboo for so many years, we would not have suffered the population blast issue. The way problems are being approached in India these days is really saddening.
— Rahul Raj (@bhak_sala) December 12, 2017
-Alcohol ban ✅-Condom ads (eventually condoms as well) ban ✅-Meat ban✅..When all this is done, sanghis will finally get the very thing they always moan about: a sharia state.Maybe they will call it “haria” for “hindu sharia”.And rename the frigging country to Haryana.
— The Last Caveman (@CarDroidusMax) December 12, 2017
Yes, because condoms are terrible. Who needs family planning & safe sex is overrated. And yes let's win a GOLD medal in the only sport we can beat China at! https://t.co/En6NcK3tz1
— Nakuul Mehta (@NakuulMehta) December 12, 2017
Happy to not have condom ads between 6pm and 10pm if you actually told our kids about condoms everyday from 8am till 3pm in school. Deal?
— Vir Das (@thevirdas) December 12, 2017
Condom ads are banned, but not abusive social media comments by ruling party trolls! ????
— Shehla Rashid (@Shehla_Rashid) December 12, 2017
Things India has banned:- Beef- Condom ads- PadmavatiThings India has not banned:- The use of demonstrably flawed election machines- Corporate political nexus- A surveillance system so incompetent, a 5-yr old could hack it
— Shibesh (@lordoftheshibs) December 12, 2017
No condom ad on TV from 6am to 10pm because kids watch TV at that time If your kid watches so much TV maybe you needed that condom in the 1st place
— Atul Khatri (@one_by_two) December 12, 2017
No condom ads on Indian TV from 6am-10pm because why learn about birth control or protected sex when you can have Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, HPV, Herpes, HIV, an abortion or an unwanted baby?
— Priya Sometimes (@PriyaSometimes) December 12, 2017
Condom usage reveals maturity, consent and consideration . Why do powerful men (and women?) not want to advertise that? Creepy values on the rise, like celibate peacocks ? ????????????
— Devdutt Pattanaik (@devduttmyth) December 12, 2017
In the 80s & 90s, India aired condom adverts on national TV. Adverts were sensuous, provocative & educative, encouraging consenting adults to use protection. In 2017, condom adverts are banned. Are we moving forward or backward?
— Milind Deora (@milinddeora) December 12, 2017
Such an action, while being inherently backward and almost laughable, is really futile. Information on sex, condoms and general pornography can be easily sourced on the internet. For the government to try and be extra careful about television is plainly unnecessary. But one has to ask as why the government would want to do something like this. Are they afraid that children will ask more questions? Are they afraid that sex will corrupt young minds? Or are they just afraid that talking about sex is against the Indian culture and that condom ads can lead to that?
Whatever the case may be, one thing is certain. This ban has given everyone a reason to talk about contraceptives and sexual health. And for that we have only the ministry of I&B to thank.