Eric Schlosser, the author of “Kid Kustomers”, puts a spotlight on the marketing on children. He starts off by talking about the effect on present day marketing. Companies like phone, oil, and automobile are targeting the children the most. He argues that kid-based companies weren’t that bad in the past, but now there are tons of companies who only focus on children. He has provided a lot of studies that support his explanation on marketing strategies.
With the exciting music, good looks/amiability of the cast, and the vivid footage, commercials appeal to the viewer, often times more than the actual shows (Postman 87). Commercial times average about 15-20 seconds and the times rarely go above 30-60 seconds (Postman 130). Quick images and short messages stimulate the mind and people begin to accept what they are seeing as the right (and best) choice (Postman 131). Commercials are about appealing to the audience, not advertising the product (Postman 128). Showing images of cute kittens, motivated runners, and yummy food excite the viewer, causing them to believe ideas (mythical or realistic) and force people to buy without thinking.
How Advertising is Leading Kids to Make Poor Choices Currently, the average American child today is exposed to an estimated 40,000 television commercials a year, over 100 a day. Advertisers try to expose children and teens to as much advertising as possible, this is to get children and teens to want to buy their products. Another factor is that advertisers use different techniques to get kids to buy their products, these techniques include bandwagon, transfer, avant-garde, facts and figures, and testimonials. Yet, children don’t realize they are being subjected to these techniques and with all the advertisements that kids are being exposed to today, these advertisements are leading kids to make poor choices. “Television, radio, cable, and
Modern Americans are still motivated to spend on various products, whether they are useful and necessary or not, as the result of powerful mass advertising campaigns, widely broadcast through many forms of media. Children and young adults are usually the main targets for such campaigns. It is estimated that the average American child watches between 25,000 to 40,000 television commercials per year so advertising undeniably has a great power over the young minds, who in turn would influence their parents and guardians (Shah, 2010). More than 30 billion dollars are spent by families every year as the result of this strategy, which is progressively adapted by many companies (Shah, 2010). Additionally, thanks to these advertisements, people pay more attention to keeping up with the current trend, with what is considered the most up to date rather than the overall necessity of the product.
Kids can be taught that what’s on an ad isn’t necessarily what they need.” At the end, marketers must maintain an appropriate structure or strategy without using people in a bad way. If it’s possible for a child being obsessed with a toy and food box, then it’s possible for him to like a sweet fruit box with an interesting book or comics, magazines etc. if we can support or teach them. We must accept that healthy food, exercising, protecting environment, enjoying beautiful sides of life, even choosing the best music or watching the proper advertisement - they are the best solutions for a good future even though they may be hard for some people to adapt.
In "Hype", written by Kalle Lasn argues about advertisements nowadays are unconsciously part of our daily life. Everyday we see different types of ad such as display ads, radio commercials, and TV commercials. According to the author 's, so many commercials are mental polluting. There is no place to hide from advertisements are found everywhere such as buses, billboards, stadium, gas station, countryside, etc. I agree with the author point of view.
“The general public apparently believes subliminal advertising exists” (Broyles 393) however, what effects, if any, are there to the people that view them? There is a belief that companies can influence our behavior in life to the extent where they can, in part, remove the consumers ' choice in their purchases. The idea of advertising firms crafting advertisements with hidden messages that influence the audience to shop at stores, buy a certain product or even which foods we ingest is common in contemporary culture. David Zinczenko addresses many concerns about the marketing and health impacts of the fast food industry in his article, “Don’t Blame the Eater”. Zinczenko says is directly, “Fast-Food companies are marketing to children a product
‘It 's not just about getting kids to whine,’ one marketer explained in Selling to Kids, “it 's giving them a specific reason to ask for the product” (Schlosser 43). McDonald’s advertisements, for example, clearly have a straightforward aim: target children. They create an environment that children would enjoy; this includes the creation of Ronald and the decoration of the restaurant with fun, playful objects. Advertisers are so concerned about creating an impactful, meaningful ad that they spend time analyzing the specific age group they are working with. Schlosser evaluates the seven major nagging techniques that accompany most children’s request to buy something or go somewhere.
Advertising has been around for decades and has been the center point for buyers by different subjects peaking different audience’s interests. Advertisers make attempts to strengthen the implied and unequivocal messages in trying to manipulate consumers’ decisions. Jib Fowles wrote an article called “Advertising’s Fifteen Basic Appeals,” explaining where he got his ideas about the appeals, from studying interviews by Henry A. Murray. Fowles gives details and examples on how each appeal is used and how advertisements can “form people’s deep-lying desires, and picturing states of being that individuals privately yearn for” (552). The minds of human beings can be influenced by many basic needs for example, the need for sex, affiliation, nurture,
Obesity has gained a lot of attention in the recent years especially in the 21st century. Right now in America, there is an ongoing epidemic. The cause is not by viruses or bacteria, but by human nature. There is no one way to solve this serious problem. With growing body sizes and serious medical problems associated with obesity, it is a problem that needs to be addressed and changed.
Advertisers will always try to target the younger audience since there is more of them other than the older audience. When kids see something bright or hear something repetitive then the kids will remember it which causes them to end up buying the product when in the store. Parents want what's right for their kids so if the kid really wants that cereal or item the parents will buy it so the kids requests will be fulfilled. In the ad when saying part of a delicious breakfast, then parents will immediately wanna buy the product because they want their child to be healthy.
Through the constant repetition of the commercial, people’s minds stay engaged to the extent where there's no time for them
each day a child sees an ad whether it be on an electronic or a sign/billboard. For instance, in the article “Facts About Marketing Towards Children” a part of the article proves that children are exposed to many advertisements each day,¨The average American child today is exposed to an estimated 40,000 television commercials a year — over 100 a day,”(89) said The Center for a New American Dream. Children are exposed to so many commercials that if you ask a child to sing a jingle they’ve heard from a commercial they will come up with one in a flash. Advertisers are maliciously and continuously advertising towards children. The quote states that an American child on average sees over 100 advertisements a day and that is true, between phones and T.V children do see a lot of
Numerous TV promotions have interesting way of grabbing the attention of their audience. For most, this consist of presenting something that the individual can relate to. Most of them also keep their advertisement simple by displaying the advertisement and explaining why one would need it. Commercials sole purpose is to benefit the audience and persuade them to purchase their product. A recent addition from the Ebony magazine featured a Snicker Bar Advertisement.
Have You Been Brain Washed? Have you ever looked at an advertisement and pictured yourself using the product that was being advertised, to than actually being interested in purchasing that product? Well that was their goal, advertisers have mastered the market industry by being aware of the fact that us humans are very concerned with our image. Advertisers know that we have a greater chance of buying a product if we can picture ourselves how we would like to be portrayed of course with the help of their product. In ads, companies want to provide an image that can be relatable to the viewers and what would want to appeal to them.
