Essay On Unethical Advertising

Introduction: The line between ethical and unethical advertising is often unclear. What seems unethical to some consumers might not faze others. If you’re unsure whether a particular marketing claim or tactic is unethical, err on the side of caution. Unethical advertising can backfire, causing consumers to turn on your company and defeating the purpose of your marketing campaign.

A) What counts as deceptive/misleading/unfair advertising?

It is unlawful for a business to make statements in trade or commerce that:

> are misleading or deceptive

> would be likely to mislead or deceive.

Failing to disclose relevant information, promises, opinions and predictions can also be misleading or deceptive. Businesses cannot rely on small print and disclaimers as an excuse for misleading or deceptive conduct. Business conduct is likely to break the law if it creates a misleading overall

For example, hidden fees and misleading pricing might be manipulative. Leaving out important details -- such as a need to purchase separate components to use a product -- leaves customers essentially misinformed. If they learn about unexpected costs after purchasing a product or service, you may have breached an ethical limit by effectively cheating them from their point of view, even if you have not technically broken any law.

Controversy:Some businesses intentionally choose controversial themes to market their products or services because they want to target a specific clientele. For example, a lingerie shop might use provocative advertisements to draw customers. But in certain contexts, these strategies might appear unethical to some. For example, if you post controversial advertisements on billboards or in public locations, some passersby might be offended. While you might not agree with their assessments, you must recognize that your reputation can suffer if you promote products or services using controversial