Phillip Nelson argues that regulating advertising is not efficient because it creates deception. Some object to this agreement by saying that government regulations should not be limited because advertising and exaggeration mislead customer and without regulations advertising would become useless. My aim in this paper is to defend Nelson’s view on limiting government regulation by showing this objection can be met.
Nelson’s view on regulations of advertising is that the government would not do an efficient job of reducing deception to customers. Nelson explains that “deception requires not only misleading information but also someone to be mislead” (156). Deception can be found often in advertising yet it is mostly used to exaggerate and not taken for fact. By allowing more government regulations it would only cause more confusion. Nelson claims, “Short of eliminating all advertising, such government roles would be self-defeating” (156). Customers would see that the creditability of the advertiser rises with the increase of regulation causing more readiness to believe what is being advertised causing customers to in turn believe all advertisements were not deceptive. To put it simply, “the more the law protects against fraud, the more people think the law protects against fraud” (156). People will assume that everything is true and will no longer question any advertisement that may possibly not follow under the direct term of deceptive advertising. This would also create much confusion to customers since most would not be aware of the actual rules of regulation. Without knowing what is properly regulated customers may believe that deceptive advertisements are true thus defeating the purpose of regulating deception. Also, by re...
... middle of paper ...
...er groups by choice (159). Regularly advertisers choose to center messages to certain demographics or select target markets. Additionally, Nelson claims that if advertisers choose not to work with a certain product because they believe it is morally wrong, someone else in the market will do it (159). Nelson concludes that complete release of regulations would not be efficient but instead suggests less regulation towards advertising.
Inefficient advertising regulations and creating more deception than relieving it can be described as Nelsons main view. It is said that advertising deceives customer, the government should have stricter regulations on exaggerations, and that without regulations advertising would be useless by critics opposing Nelson’s view. It is clear that Nelson’s view on limiting government regulation can be perceived as a plausible solution.
All in all, the book Age of Propaganda: The Use and Abuse of Persuasion by Partkanis and Aronson points out the flaws in the advertising and marketing methods. The purpose of the four stratagems in marketing is to most effectively catch consumers’ attention and get them to buy their product. The strategies are pre-persuasion, source credibility, message and emotion. The authors point out that the race of corporations to beat one another to consumers has created a world of advertising that is cluttered with tactics that take away the truth of the product. If this trend continues, and these stratagems continue to be installed, our world will be littered with over-the-top and pointless campaigns.
Direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising refers to one of the marketing strategies in a pharmaceutical industry. As pharmaceutical products directly affect people's lives and health, many industrialized countries ban DTC advertisements; the United States and New Zealand are the only industrialized countries that allow DTC advertising of prescription medicines. However, there is a controversy over whether DTC advertising, as one of the most effective forms of mass communication, should be more regulated than it is now. This debate is ongoing. This research argument, however, contends that people need stronger regulations against many DTC advertisements in the pharmaceutical industry because they are usually manipulative and misleading to people.
Goldman opens our eyes here to the idea that advertising is something required for the free-market to function properly. One of the biggest things in the market affected by advertising is media which would not exist at a fair market price today if it were not for advertising. Goldman continues to justify this argument up by pointing out that, at its core, advertisement is just a way to provide information, nothing more and nothing less. It is there to make people aware of their options and show them what is available on the market. Goldman also points out that there are multiple arguments for and against advertising as a whole and what it is meant to accomplish, this in itself allows for one to conclude that advertising is exactly like any other product of the free m...
Is advertising the ultimate means to inform and help us in our everyday decision-making or is it just an excessively powerful form of mass deception used by companies to persuade their prospects and customers to buy products and services they do not need? Consumers in the global village are exposed to increasing number of advertisement messages and spending for advertisements is increasing accordingly.
Advertising is designed to foster a desire to purchase goods and services, yet it is much deeper than that—advertising is a system of effective manipulation that twists the mentalities of those subjected to it. It shapes people’s views of the world and warps their connections to each other. Therefore, advertising not only shapes their personal values but also distorts them until their principles no longer come from within them. Thus, in my opinion, advertising, unless deeply rooted in high ethical standards, destroys any concept of community, common morality or deep bonding.
Postman states, advertisements were created to “appeal to understanding, and not to passion” (60). It is also stated that producers would make the assumption “that potential buyers were illiterate, rational, and analytical.”(58) Though Neil Postman makes it apparent that advertisers are not always truthful about what they say. Advertisers also tried to appeal to the masses by coming up with catchy slogans to lure people in.
To begin with, misleading advertising is the commercial speech “that can deceive consumers by ambiguity, through presentation or by omitting important information […] or including false information.” It is subject to federal regulation. Before 1895 fraudulent advertising was everywhere. It was not until 1893 to 1911 “when standards were in the making” due to the acknowledgement of ethical dilemmas of false advertising: deceiving the consumer and dishonesty.
Advertising is so prominent in American culture, and even the world at large, that this media form becomes reflective of the values and expectations of the nation’s society at large.
A reader will clearly understand whether the advertising influences people or not, also will recognize how advertising forces people to buy things they do not need. It is also important to distinguish between manipulation and influence. During the whole work, we will show exact examples and evidence of how actually advertising manipulates people and why we do not see it. On the other hand, we will also describe non-manipulative advertising and how people can avoid senseless purchase.
Advertisers and corporations are liable for using modern and sophisticated forms of mind control to the extent level of brainwashing consumers, in order to manipulate their choices and their spending habits. Our society is being negatively impacted, by becoming a consumer driven society constantly distracted by overwhelming persuasive advertisements, as opposed to ideal informative advertisements. The most vulnerable and negatively impacted targets of persuasive advertising are the younger, less mature, and/or less knowledgeable and self-directed consumers. Ironically, it was once said “An advertising agency is 85 percent confusion and 15% commission” (Allen). It is quite clear that social benefits are not part of this equation. The harm and severe social related costs far outweigh any economic growth and benefits deemed necessary for advertising and marketing companies.
Advertising." Current Issues: Macmillan Social Science Library. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 4 Dec. 2013.
Nowadays, advertising is a very big business. Very often is the major means of competing among firms. Furthermore, supporters of advertising claim that it brings specific benefits for consumers.
Businesses are in game in order to earn money and advertising is the strongest weapon that helps to sell a particular product . An advertisement can be harmful and misleading as well as helpful and beneficial . Advertising in ethics is an unclear concept , but truly the main goals of corporations should be avoid misleading their customers by setting up wrong expectations and to keep their current clients .The major problem with advertising is that most of them are misleading . Advertisements create an unrealistic and sometimes irrelevant impression of an any particular product. Unfortunately, often , consumers become the victims of their tricks .
...maintain that advertising exists primarily to create demand among consumers. People have certain types of wants and needs, and they are perfectly capable to discover it for themselves. People today just need food, clothing and shelter everything else is superfluous and additional stuff. Advertising are able to create demand that would not exist just by manipulating people’s min and emotions. Advertising is master in manipulate reality and fantasy, by creating “magic show.” It is true that advertising has been a powerful mechanism that distorts our whole society’s values and priorities. On the other hand, advertising educate people about several issues. In political terms, it moves mass of people and persuade them to vote for a candidate. And, of course, in terms of economy, contributes in the development through the consumption of the costumer.