Alcohol Advertising and Youth: Teenage Manipulation

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“Advertising is the modern substitute for argument; its function is to make the worse appear the better” (George Santayana). Today advertisements are more prevalent than ever. Nearly 10% of large companies’ revenue is spent marketing their products to specifically reach a particular group. There are several ways in which companies market their products: television, online, or visual advertisements, including billboards and newspapers. Most advertisements are made to target a younger demographic. A teen’s friends and family also play a role on their decision making. With the desire for teens to fit in, they are more likely to be manipulated by advertisements and the people with whom they surround themselves..
Advertising dates all the way back to the ancient Egyptians who would use Papyrus to make sales posters. The first printed ads were used to advertise a prayer book in England in 1472. During the American Revolution, advertisements were used to encourage enlisting (Fox). In 1941, the first commercial television ad for nonessential products aired and paved the way for the onslaught of advertisements that are viewed during television shows, games, and even political debates. Today the most prominent sources of advertising will be seen on the computer and TV screen. With the amount of time teens spend consuming media, the exposure to advertisements can easily have an effect on their behavior. Teens are constantly bombarded with ads and influences while searching the internet, following friends on Facebook, and watching television. With age comes privilege and independence, but teens need guidance and direction in making important choies..
With greater freedom and independence, teens face new decisions regarding automobi...

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..., Zoe. "Mashable." Mashable. N.p., 26 Dec. 2011. Web. 08 Feb. 2014. .
"The Teen Brain: Behavior, Problem Solving, and Decision Making." The Teen Brain: Behavior, Problem Solving, and Decision Making. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Dec. 2011. Web. 08 Feb. 2014. .
"How Marketing Manipulates Our Preferences." How Marketing Manipulates Our Preferences. N.p., 2 Feb. 2010. Web. 09 Feb. 2014. .
Stephen, Maughan. "Parental Influences on Teenage Drinking." Everyday Life. Demand Media, n.d. Web. 09 Feb. 2014. .

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