State Farm Insurance Encourages Teens to Text NNID

Using texting lingo, State Farm offers young drivers a line to send to their friends before they drive.

Summary

Commercial opens with a young adult getting a text message as she is finishing lunch.

Text #1: Hey, girl. Seven still good for you tonight?

Reply: Perfect, thanks. What should I wear?

Text #2: Ryan and I are going to Spencer’s place after the show tonight, want to join?

Reply: Can’t, plans with J. You guys have fun.

As the commercial progresses, all of the people she is texting join her as she is walking. In other words, they are texting each other to converse rather than actually talking.

Text #3: Sup, Mol. You have notes from Lit class?

Reply: Yo, M. Notes at home meet you tomorrow a.m. @ cc’s?

Text #4: Hey, Mol. J ok? He didn’t call back.

Text #5: Did you borrow my vest?

Young woman gets into her car.

Spoken Reply: Alright you guys, not now I’m driving.

Text Reply: NNID (not now I’m driving)

Young woman puts her cell phone away and drives off, leaving the group of friends standing together on the curb. Once the friends realize that she isn’t going to be replying back, they disperse.

Screen changes to read “Park the phone. Drive.”

Point of Commercial

I know that this commercial isn’t selling insurance. It is more of a public service announcement that was put together by State Farm Insurance, but it still is an advertisement for them .

The point of the commercial is that texting is okay in certain situation and driving is not one of them.

What They Want you to Do

State Farm Insurance wants people to stop texting while they drive. Texting not only takes your mind off the road, it also takes your eyes off the road to look at your cell phone. You can’t text and still be able to drive in ideal situations, let alone react to a situation.

This particular distraction increases your chance of having an accident, which in turn is paid for by the insurance company.

My Opinion

I know State Farm Insurance’s intentions were good when they created this commercial, but I question the message.

If a young driver were to text NNID (Not Now I’m Driving) to a friend that texted them while they were driving, wouldn’t this defeat the purpose of telling people not to text?

Overall, the intention of the commercial was good. I just feel that it sends a confusing message and doesn’t really address why people shouldn’t text while driving.

I give this State Farm Insurance commercial a thumbs up and a thumbs down.