In the American society, we are all bombarded daily with advertisements through commercials on t.v., magazines, the radio, and many other media outlets. Companies work very hard to sell their products to the targeted audience that will provide the best sell rates. We are surrounded with pop culture throwing ideas and items at us constantly. As adults, we know that not everything that is advertised is a good and necessary product. We learn to ignore advertisements that don't apply to our lives specifically and we keep in mind that the company does have the goal of selling the product no matter what it takes. Children are a different story. They, too, are bombarded with advertisements that try to reel in their interest. Many times, the child will decide that they want a certain product and they do anything to get it. For instance, after a child sees a new toy commercial on t.v. what are they going to do? They are going to ask their parents for the toy. They are not just going to ask, they are going to nag. They will keep this up for a long as possible or until they get what they want. This puts the parents of the child in a bad position. They do not want to just give in and teach the child that nagging gets them what they want, but the parents can only take so much of the nagging. The Majority of corporations understand how to sell a product to a child. They also understand that while the parents of the child wouldn't normally buy the product, even after seeing it advertise, the child will add extra pressure which will do the trick. Most corporations make children believe that the product is something they want. This causes the child to nag and no parent likes a nagging child. In most cases parents give in and buy the product that the child wants. It is simply easier for the parents. With this said, it only makes sense that companies would aim the marketing of their product towards children and not the parents. Much of the time it is through the child's nagging on end that finally pushes the parent over the edge. This advertising occurs so often and is in fact successful. The problem is whether or not it is truly ethical. Is it right for corporations to make innocent, basically clueless, children believe that they need a certain product? That question is definitely hard to answer. Yes, advertising to children is affective, but to what degree is it acceptable? Marketing to children is not necessarily a bad thing there is just the issue of how to go about it and which lines should not be crossed.
Dear Britney,
ReplyDeleteEverybody is attacked by advertisements every day. Corporations target specific people in their advertisements in an attempt to increase sales. Like you said in your blog children are bombarded with advertisements all the time. Corporations do this to try to reel in young children because they are incapable of distinguishing between fantasy and reality. Children are also incapable of making educated decisions for themselves. Another thing that you mentioned is that most children remember advertisements that target them for a long time. They will keep nagging until they either get what they want or until they get smacked and told to shut up. This is a very bad situation to purposely put somebody in. Thank you for writing Britney. Corporations are wrong for targeting little children and putting excessive burdens on their parents. Corporations should not try to cruelly brainwash little kids but they should do more to promote better morals and values.
Junco
Dear Britney,
ReplyDeleteSuch a great topic & oh so true! I remember wanting everything I saw a commercial for on TV when I was younger! Especially if a certain celebrity I liked was in the commercial. Growing up, I didn't always get those things that I "nagged" for & as much as it sucked back then, I am glad my parent's didn't give me everything I wanted.
"In most cases parents give in and buy the product that the child wants. It is simply easier for the parents." I believe that this is how children get spoiled. Just because they ask for a million times, they should get it? What if I asked for a certain car a million times, I should get it then? That doesn't even mention the thought of whether or not the parent's can afford the product for their children...a lot of them can't, & buy it anyways because their child "wants" it. We can't all have what we "want".
"Most corporations make children believe that the product is something they want." This is so true. You don't even know what this product is until you see it on TV & then your neighbor gets it, & you just think you HAVE to have it! When little does the child know, that they will be perfectly fine without it! :P
I enjoy reading your blog & you have very well thought out & interesting posts. I hope to keep reading! Thanks for your time!
Rhino
Dear cbrit,
ReplyDeleteThis is a great topic for discussion. You must admit that even though it might be wrong for corporations to do this, it is pure genius that they thought to bring the children into the picture of their advertising. I think it is ok to advertise to children, but there should be limit, and corporations should respect those boundaries.
Your statement in you passage, “Is it right for corporations to make innocent, basically clueless, children believe that they need a certain product?” grabbed my attention. The children are clueless to how corrupt this world is. They don’t understand how some people don’t care and only want things for themselves. Children should not be targeted for that purpose, and a lot of corporations’ advertisements are doing just that. That isn’t right. They should show their cool toy and everything it does and let that be it. Telling kids that it will fight off demons and scare the boogie man is a lie. That is where they cross the line.
I couldn’t agree with you more when you said, “They are not just going to ask, they are going to nag. They will keep this up for as long as possible or until they get what they want.” I agree with you so much, and I know that this is true because as a child, I use to do this to my parents. I’m sure we all did. When we saw a cool toy on TV, we would almost burst into tears if we didn’t get it. This is another thing that corporations use as another sell point. The nag factor works for children, and the parent usually gives in to the madness.
Thank you for writing about how corporations attach children’s minds and hearts. I’m sure corporations will say that they aren’t doing that on purpose, but I would almost bet that they all do that. The children don’t even know they are being targeted. If you keep writing about things that affect/affected me even when I didn’t realize it, I will be back.