The “We Get You” campaign is the newest effort to promote Bedsider.org, a website created by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. The website offers free information on and support for various methods of birth control.

The campaign, aimed at African-American women 18-29 years old, debuted on Nov. 20 on the BET television network and online. The campaign uses funny videos to accomplish its two goals: get young adults to visit the site for free information on birth control and, in turn, lower the rate of unplanned pregnancy.

The hilarious commercials parody the discomfort commonly felt when discussing sex and birth control. 

In one video, a young couple is having a romantic dinner when the guy’s dog starts humping his girlfriend’s leg. The guy says, “that reminds me… I’ve been thinking, maybe we should try a new form of birth control.”

Another video features a young woman and her grandmother in the car. The grandmother begins telling her granddaughter about how “back in the day ” she was a “sex expert,” and all the granddaughter can do is awkwardly avoid eye contact. 

The videos end with the claim that Bedsider.org gives you tons of free information about birth control, and it’s not “awkward like your boyfriend/grandma.” 

The videos’ light-hearted approach is what makes the campaign successful. American culture has made strides when it comes to removing the taboo around openly discussing sex and birth control, but it’s still undoubtedly awkward to discuss these topics with your family or boyfriend. 

Debra Lee, the chairwoman and chief executive of BET Networks, told the New York Times that the campaign “uses humor as opposed to lecturing our young people. It gives them the benefit of the doubt and lets them know they are smart.”

These videos are so crucial for teens and young adults to see, especially considering the lack of medically accurate sexual education being taught across the country.   

Although our Lone Star State ranks in the top five for highest teen pregnancy rates in the nation, Texas schools continue to teach abstinence-only sexual education, as do many other southern states.

The videos are funny and relatable, which makes them memorable. They let young adults know that “we get it.” Talking about sex and birth control can be awkward, so instead visit our website to get information sans the awkward conversation. 

However, I don’t think the videos are just successful because they get young adults to visit Bedsider’s website. The videos can often be an icebreaker for starting a conversation with your partner or parent.

If someone is watching BET with their partner, the commercial might make them laugh, but it also might lead into a much needed conversation. Similarly, a young woman can use the PSA to bring up her need for birth control to her parent. 

Starting the conversation is the hard part, and that’s what this new campaign can help to facilitate.