Children and advertising?

Question

All ads are aimed at specific audiences such as housewifes,high-level excecutives or even children.Some people think advertising is harmless entertaining and fun.Others believe it has the potential to be very dangerous.What is your opinion on children and advertising?

Answer 1

I believe that advertising affects us whether we realize it or not, and therefore the only way for it _not_ to affect us is to refrain from watching/reading/listening to it.

Now, realistically, there's no way to avoid _all_ the advertising aimed at us. Advertising is becoming increasingly pervasive -- and invasive. It's everywhere!

And most of it is telling us bad things about ourselves. Most of it tells us that we are imperfect, that we need to buy something in order to make our lives better. No wonder most people carry thousands of dollars worth of credit card debt. I'd say that's pretty dangerous!

As far as kids go, I don't think it's possible to shield children from all advertising, but I think parents can take steps to make their kids smarter about the purpose of advertising and the way advertising works, so they can be informed, conscious consumers rather than people who run out and buy the newest shiny thing.

I have a 2 and a half year old daughter, and she does not watch "regular" TV. The only things she has ever watched on TV have been DVDs and videotapes, and I fast-forward through the previews and ads. It's not hard to do, and it cuts way down on her exposure to a bunch of ads aimed at her cute little head. (It also helps that we have only the most basic cable package -- no movie channels, none of the cute kids' channels, etc.).

My daughter has her whole life ahead of her, plenty of time to be influenced and "branded" by advertising. I'm sure they'll "get" her, as they "get" most of us -- me included! I have certain brands to which I'm loyal and certain advertising catchphrases I like to spout. But for now I am careful about choosing what goes into her developing mind.  If I don't act as her filter for the junk, who will?

Parents of older kids can talk to their children about advertising: "What is this ad trying to get you to do? Why might you want to buy this product? How might it help you? What do you think might happen if you don't buy this product?"  etc etc. A little bit of time analyzing the thousands of messages blasted at us every day, and how those messages make us feel, can go a long way toward creating educated young consumers who can weigh the value of a purchase instead of just blowing their money on something they "have to" have.

Answer 2

I'm against junk food advertising aimed at kids. Ever watched the movie Super Size Me? If you think it's fake, watch any major American channel on a Saturday morning when they show cartoons and count the junk food commercials.

It's no wonder why the amount of obese children in America is soaring.

Answer 3

If they don't llke it - Don't look at it.

I am yet to see dangerous advertising.

Answer 4

well, it depends WHAT and HOW it is being advertized