Cringe-Worthy HIV Ads

TestBKK's Birthday Surprise Shows There Are Worse Things Than Getting Tested

Although this TestBKK ad is titled 'Birthday Surprise,' the "surprise" is more awkward than amusing. Thailand's TestBKK is an organization that focuses its efforts on encouraging gay men to have safe sex and get regularly tested for HIV. In its ad, a man returns to his childhood room and starts flipping through old photos and other memories from his time as a teen. When he encounters a disk labeled "Sex 101," it goes into his computer and he seems quite eager to remember its contents.

At this point, there's some suggestive adult content and there's definitely no mistaking what he's watching and pleasuring himself to. At this moment, his entire family decides to burst into his room with a cake, candles, party hats and confetti. Cleverly, the ad states that "There are more awkward things than getting tested."

Safe Sex Awareness
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Creative Advertisements
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Sex Education
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Public Health
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Education and E-learning
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SCORE
2.4 out of 10
GENDER
90% Men10% Women
MARKETTop markets: Asia
GENERATION
  • Gen Alpha
  • Gen X
  • Gen Z (primary audience)
  • Millennial (primary audience)
POPULARITY
Popularity 15%
Activity 48%
Freshness 8%