Yesterday (August 5), a netizen posted some pictures on Chinese social media platform Sina Weibo and said an advertisement with inappropriate contents appeared in a women-only carriage on Shenzhen Metro Line 1. The pictures showed that the advertising slogans in the carriage read "Dad, I want to marry you when I grow up", or "Mom, I want to marry you when I grow up". A short notice—"Take no offense at a child's babble (童言无忌 in Chinese, pinyin: tong yan wu ji )"—was marked next to the slogans.

Controversial advertising slogans in the Shenzhen Metro. [Photo / Nanfang Metropolis Daily]

Many netizens expressed doubts about the appropriateness of these slogans. The hashtag "advertising slogans in a women-only carriage on Shenzhen Metro Line 1" became a trending topic on Sina Weibo and has been read more than 59 thousand times as of Wednesday.

Why use "marry" to express love for your parents? There are many other words to express love.

What children say are "innocent words", but if you post such a slogan to misguide the children, it will not be "innocent".

Not every girl has a good father.

Are there not enough pedophiles?

This sentence is as offensive as "Daughter is the lover of her father in his previous life"...

I have only heard that "when I grow up, I will marry someone like my dad". This is the normal value.

Netizens' comments.

After an on-site visit, reporters from the Nanfang Metropolis Daily have confirmed that there were two such advertisements in the No. 6 women-only carriage of the No. 73 train on Shenzhen Metro Line 1.

Reporters learned from Shenzhen Metro Commercial Management Co., Ltd. that the advertisement was launched by New Oriental Education Shenzhen School and the contents were legal and compliant during the initial examination.

In response to this, the New Oriental Education Shenzhen School's official Weibo account announced that the advertisement was indeed published by them, and they have noticed this matter. The school replied that the "intent of this advertisement is definitely not bad". They promised to give the public a satisfactory solution in the following days.

Mr. Liang, a staff member from the Shenzhen Metro Commercial Management Co., Ltd., said the advertisements questioned by netizens will be removed after the metro ceased operation on August 5. He also stressed that in the future, the management and examination of advertising business will be strengthened to ensure advertisements' appropriateness in culture, ethics, moral principles and and other aspects while ensuring legal compliance.

1.Do you think the ads are improper?

·Yes

·No

2.Do you think ads should be removed?

·Yes

·No

Author| Ariel

Editor| Monica, Jerry