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The effects of advertisements on consumer behaviour
Impact of advertising on children
Impact of advertising on children
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Recommended: The effects of advertisements on consumer behaviour
George Parker once said, “The only people who care about advertising are the people who work in advertising." Advertisers use many different techniques that target children and teens. Many people do not realize how harmful this can turn out to be. Advertising plays a harmful role in the lives of youth because it poses health risks, prevents children and teens from saving money, and exposes them to way too many ads.
One way that advertising is harmful is advertising poses health risks to youths. In a video titled, “The Myth of Choice: How Junk-Food Marketers Target Our Kids,” narrated by Anna Lappe, it talks about how advertisers target youths. In the video it states, “...only 16% of kids get balanced food.” Foods that are advertised the most,
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In an article titled, “Food Advertising and Marketing Directed at Children and Adolescents in the US,” by Mary Story and Simone French, it talks about how advertisers are targeting children and teens. Based on what I read, in the U.S. alone, adolescents spend 140 billion dollars annually while children spend 12-25 billion dollars annually. Youths are spending money that could go towards their college funds and things that they need. (add something about article facts about marketing to children) In fact, in an article titled, “$211 Billion and So Much to Buy American Youths, the New Big Spenders,” it talks about how people ages 8-24 years old spent $211 billion in 2012. If they spent this much money in 2012, the cost most likely went up in 2017 since youths have so many ways of being exposed to ads currently. This can lead to many that shouldn’t be a …show more content…
This leads to all the issues involving advertising. In an article titled, “Facts About Marketing to Children,” it states, “Advertising directed at children is estimated at over $15 billion annually…” In fact an average youth is exposed to an estimated 5,000 ads annually. This shows that advertisers know that it is easier to convince a child to want their product rather than an adult, and this is why they target children and teens. Also in the article, “$211 Billion and So Much to Buy American Youths, the New Big Spenders,” it talks about how much time youths spend on the internet. 76% of 8-9 year olds spend more than one hour on the internet per day and 91% of 16-17 year olds spend more than one hour on the internet each day. Since the average amount of ads seen per day is 500 ads, in just one hour there are about 20 ads seen by children. This comes down to that the more ads that youths see, the higher the risk of all the problems ads
In the article “Report of the APA Task Force on Advertising and Children” talks about commercials targeting kids. First of all, Advertising didn’t take off until the arrival of various mass media;printing, radio, and television. Secondly, The British Parliament passed legislation in 1874 intended to protect children from the efforts of merchants to induce them to buy products and assume debt. Thirdly, Opportunities to advertise to children further expanded with the explosive growth the internet and thousands of child-oriented Web sites with advertising content have appeared in the past few years. After that, The growth in advertising channels reaching children and the privatization in children’s media use---have resulted in dramatic increase
We have examined the more serious product that can be dangerous and deadly to underage users. Let us take a look at a few different things. According to an article in American Demographics entitled "Born to Shop" children as young as three ask for brand names, and at six months babies recognize corporate logos and spokesmen. That is scary especially considering 93% of teenage girls say shopping is their favourite activity. On this issue I do agree with the author. I think we should ban all advertising to children less than 12. The evidence shows that children under that age cannot make an informed decision. To relate this to a topic discussed earlier, that credit card debt is at its highest level ever. How much of that debt is contributed to parents buying things for kids that are subjected to these ad campaigns. For example Levis' jeans, Nike shoes, Tommy Hilfigger shirts, and other expensive brand name items that kids increasingly demand so they can fit in or so they do not stand out and get beat up. As you can see, it can be argued advertising to kids creates a number of social problems.
Velazquez, Cayley. (2013). Youth Attention to Food and Beverage Advertising: Differences by Age, Gender and Susceptibility to Advertising. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.
Advertising today focuses on specific targeted demographic groups. There is a direct focus on marketing products to young consumers. This age group sees the commercials, but does not really understand the directed message. This can have an adverse effect on the way children interpret and understand the message being presented to them. 'The average American child sees more than 40,000 commercials a year, and advertisers spend more than $12 billion annually marketing to them?double the amount of 10 years ago.' (APA-1) Children watching television are exposed to every channel running commercials that are sending out a mature message to an immature audience. There needs to be something done to prevent young children from receiving the wrong message at an early age. Also help for them to understand the message that is being sent out in a positive manner.
Keep in mind youth are easy prey, and reaching them as a demographic is also a simple accomplishment. Television commercials, magazines and the internet are the some of the more popular methods in which to reach America’s youth. They are a captive audience, they spend countless hours watching television and surfing on the internet. It is a shame our technological advances over the centuries have actually turned against our youth, at least when it comes to non-censored advertising. It should be no surprise they are a likely target and potentially big money makers.
The culture of childhood has changed dramatically. From the moment children are brought into the world, businesses eye them as legitimate targets for consumerism. With an increase in media outlets, corporations attempt to covertly impose themselves into every aspect of children’s lives through advertising. The goal is to catch children early, not only to sell products, but also to transform them into lifelong consumers. As the President of “Kids ‘R’ Us” has stated, “If you own this child at an early age... you can own this child for years to come,” or as the saying goes, from “cradle to grave” (Kilbourne 45). Companies spend close to 17 billion dollars annually marketing to children (Marketing to Children). With the average child between the ages of 8 and 18 exposed to screen media about 11 hours a day, advertisers strategically maneuver ways in which they can reach youngsters from all angles (Hanes 486). That gives these little consumers great purchasing power, which to corporations means big business. Unlike many other industrialized nations who have passed legislation prohibiting advertising to kids deemed “unfair and deceptive,” efforts to pass similar laws in the US have been repeatedly trampled by a coalition of food, toy, broadcaster, ad agencies and even the tobacco industry (Kilbourne 42). Regardless of parental involvement, with this kind of marketing bombardment and power, parents fight a losing battle over the influence of their children’s choices and rights. Advertising aimed at selling to children should be banned because marketing strategies manipulate the underdeveloped brain of the child, stifle children’s imagination, and contribute to the incidence of health problems, all for the purpose of selling products.
There is focus upon advertising and children for two broad reasons. First, it is because children are children, and are considered separately. Second, it is because children will become adults. Advertising therefore effects behavior during childhood and continues to do so into adulthood. Advertising to children rarely receives a good press, and it remains a controversial topic in the wider domain. Advertisements from Major companies target children on their ads for a variety of reasons. Children are more likely to be swindled by the ads for sugary foods endorsed by athletes. By pro athletes being role models to kids companies hire them to sell their products. Children being influenced by these ads convince their parents to buy them these foods. Without exercise and a healthy lifestyle these ads marketing foods high in fat leads to childhood obesity. Childhood obesity is a major problem effecting the United States. This is alarming because once gained, it is very difficult to get rid of extra weight, and obesity is associated with an increased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer, and with a lower life expectancy. Children are now heavier than before and with more kids spending time in doors watching television they take in more ads. More ads mean more money being spent by parents on foods that are not healthy. In addition to using athletes popular cartoon characters are used to make the product seem “kid friendly” and can include catchy songs, bright colors, and animals. It is known that there is a link between the ads of companies marketing to children and the rise of childhood obesity.
According to CBS News, in 1983, companies spent $100 million marketing to kids. Today, they're spending nearly $17 billion annually. Companies are spending more and more advertising towards children because of the fact that they have an almost limited supply of cash. Companies know that if a child were to ask a parent for a certain toy the parent would feel reluctant to buy, that’s if the toy was marketed right. Advertising has become elusive in its nature; it is not traditionally just a commercial selling an object; in some commercials there are said to have subliminal messages encoded.
Advertisements clutter modern day society. It seems as if on every street corner, website, television show, magazine, or even car window, someone somewhere is trying to sell you something. Whether it be a product, a service, or an idea, businesses ploy manipulative and deceitful marketing schemes in order to persuade consumers into buying whatever they have to sell. While mass spread of these advertisements can be conducive to economic growth and possibly have other indirectly beneficial effects, there are a vast amount of advertisements that are sending destructive messages to the general public, as well as to the younger population of people. Harmful products such as tobacco, alcohol, fast food, or even potentially pharmaceutical medicines can be glorified, and encouraged for consumption. The negative effects these products can have are well documented, and it is concerning whether these advertisements should be more strictly regulated or banned from public display. Beyond physical harm, many advertisements can capitalize on the insecurities of vulnerable individuals, and can have a wide array of negative psychological effects including causing people to create a skewed body image of themselves, develop eating disorders, and even cause or worsen depression and anxiety. Many advertisements target children due to their innate vulnerability and innocence, generally preventing them from making sound judgments. While there are already many laws around the world regarding the restrictions placed on false advertising, censorship, and many other things, it could be argued that there are still a lot of negative outcomes from advertising, and stricter regulation is necessary.
Our culture is plagued by rampant consumerism. Today’s view of the ultimate reason for human existence is the purchasing and owning of stuff. The idea is that whoever has the most stuff is the best, and from that we form our base of what it means to be an American. As corporations are placing greater emphasis on brands and icons, children and teens are the easiest prey to target. The average American child spends more than five hours in a single day sitting in front of either the computer or television screen while being constantly bombarded with advertising. Promotional campaigns and commercial messages permeate most waking hours of a child’s or teenager’s life. The overwhelming underlying message that advertising sends to children and teens is that material things make a person, and it is not about whom you are but what you own. This is the message that children are being sent almost every second of everyday in America. This message will be the message that they will believe in when they reach adulthood and the affect of this will be grave.
Did you know that a thirty second commercial can influence brand preferences in children as young as two years old? Well, believe it ("Media & Health"). Kids are being heavily exposed to food advertising, and there are many questions on how they are influenced, and if it is a good or bad influence in their lives. Therefore, food advertising with kids has a big, bad influence on this generation because of its harmful consequences. When kids are in contact with advertising, they are being persuaded to eat unhealthy foods and the majority of them do not recognize it. For this reason, companies are using children as an important target to develop their economy. Also, while being influenced by advertising, many eating disorders such as childhood obesity has increased a lot around the world.
Advertisements are found everywhere in today’s world. They have a big impact on what the consumer buys. Commercials are often aimed towards children and teens because they will ask their parents to buy the product. Another reason teens are targeted by advertisers is because they have money to spend and are willing to buy unnecessary products, especially if it is the latest and greatest. Teens feel that they need the newest electronics, clothing, and other luxury items.
Advertising has an influence on everyone in one way or another, but it especially has had an influence on my children. Catchy jingles, cute slogans, and cartoon characters are all key factors that have hooked my children on certain products. Advertising influences the toys they want, the clothes they wear, and the food they eat.
As a little girl I loved watching television shows on Saturday mornings. I’d get upset when a show would proceed to commercial. That is until I watched the shiny new toy being played with by the girl my age and of course the cool new one that came into the happy meal, then I’d forget. After seeing the appealing commercial I’d run to my mom and try to slickly mention it. “You know McDonalds has a new Monster’s Inc. toy in their happy meal. Isn’t that great? “Now I realize that back then I was targeted by big companies to beg my parents for things that I didn’t need or that wasn’t good for me in order to make money. Advertising today is affecting the health of today’s children because they eat the unhealthy foods advertised to them on: television, the internet, and even at school. Therefore, an impassioned discussion of possible solutions has been brewing.
By watching advertisements children’s mind diverted to the concept of advertisement and observes the ideas and information which adversely affect the behaviour of children. “In a study it is found that commercials did not create stereotypes, they suggested advertising could play a powerful role in reinforcing stereotypes. Their study reveals that products advertised to girls focused on themes of popularity and beauty, while boy oriented commercials tended to concentrate on power and speed”(Courtney and Whipple, 1983). Using unfair means in the advertising have also bad affect on the children social development and purchase behaviour. Children today are exposed to all types of advertisements on various media like television, print media and internet as well. Many companies have their seperate websites which are also shown in these commercials. With the advent of internet, companies find new and best ways to reach customers on broad scale specially target teenagers and children to earn more money. Companies like McDonald’s have target children through its websites by offering different types of events online like playing games and