Advertising to children?

Nebulous

Nebulous

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The advertising industry spends $12 billion per year on ads targeted to children, bombarding young audiences with persuasive messages through media such as television and the Internet. The average child is exposed to more than 40,000 TV commercials a year, according to studies.

How do you feel about this?
 
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Since we live in a capitalistic country, companies will continue to market their products to children. It makes the children beg and ask for products, that some parents might cave in and get. My sister and I would constantly say "I want that!" every time we seen a toy in a commercial. My mom would say "Okay" but we'd rarely get the toy. She most likely just said this so we wouldn't get upset. xD
 
Unfortunately, many companies will always take this approach because that is how they sell their products. Kids see something on a commercial that they like the look of and they will ask for it. You usually find that these kinds of commercials end up being more over the Christmas period as kids will be telling Santa what they want, that is where I feel it puts the parents in a difficult situation though especially when the toy the kid sees's advertised may be quite expensive and possibly out of their budget.
 
I'm more concerned about the use of personal data to target ads tbf.
Not all companies still allow access without opting out.

Tiktok have been fined for granting access to under-13s without parental consent.
www.bbc.co.uk

TikTok fined £12.7m for misusing children's data

The data regulator finds TikTok "did not do enough" to check the ages of who was using their platform.
www.bbc.co.uk
 
~ True Legend ~ said:
I'm more concerned about the use of personal data to target ads tbf.
Not all companies still allow access without opting out.

Tiktok have been fined for granting access to under-13s without parental consent.
www.bbc.co.uk

TikTok fined £12.7m for misusing children's data

The data regulator finds TikTok "did not do enough" to check the ages of who was using their platform.
www.bbc.co.uk
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Holy cow.... i didn't know this?

but i am seeing alot of very young kids on tiktok, which is worrying
 
guyyanthony said:
Holy cow.... i didn't know this?

but i am seeing alot of very young kids on tiktok, which is worrying
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Yeah it’s nuts. I was shocked too!

Sorry, a lil off-topic: I remember when I was a kid, sometimes simply opening up youtube would bring obscene ads. My mum assumed I was being inappropriate when it’s youtube who’s really to blame 😭 😂
[automerge]1680621968[/automerge]
Another quick off-topic comment in relation to the above: are you aware of the BBC staff being asked to remove TikTok from phones due to possible links in the Chinese government?
www.bbc.co.uk

BBC advises staff to delete TikTok from work phones

The corporation is taking the decision over privacy and security concerns about the popular app.
www.bbc.co.uk

Back on topic: I think showing kids cool things they can’t always have is a good way to teach kids that they can’t always get what they want, and ads can be a good way to encourage discipline for rewarding good behaviours and sanctioning bad behaviours. In a positive reinforcement type of way.
 
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I believe that companies can manipulate children with the ways that they advertise. I was watching the Disney channel at Christmastime and couldn't believe all the ads that I had to sit through during the commercial breaks.

But besides the enormous amount of ads, the ads themselves were done in a way that kids feel that toy is a MUST HAVE. All the cool kids have that toy, so if they want to fit in, they needed to get their parents to buy that toy as well.

I'm pretty sure advertising has always been this way, but now that my own child is grown, I can see it for what it is!
 
Karinadoll said:
But besides the enormous amount of ads, the ads themselves were done in a way that kids feel that toy is a MUST HAVE. All the cool kids have that toy, so if they want to fit in, they needed to get their parents to buy that toy as well.
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I agree to an extent, however I feel that jealousy and peer pressure among the peers kids associated with influence these emotions in kids more than ads do.
 
~ True Legend ~ said:
Yeah it’s nuts. I was shocked too!

Sorry, a lil off-topic: I remember when I was a kid, sometimes simply opening up youtube would bring obscene ads. My mum assumed I was being inappropriate when it’s youtube who’s really to blame 😭 😂
[automerge]1680621968[/automerge]
Another quick off-topic comment in relation to the above: are you aware of the BBC staff being asked to remove TikTok from phones due to possible links in the Chinese government?
www.bbc.co.uk

BBC advises staff to delete TikTok from work phones

The corporation is taking the decision over privacy and security concerns about the popular app.
www.bbc.co.uk

Back on topic: I think showing kids cool things they can’t always have is a good way to teach kids that they can’t always get what they want, and ads can be a good way to encourage discipline for rewarding good behaviours and sanctioning bad behaviours. In a positive reinforcement type of way.
Click to expand...
its a scary world out there.... which worries me when i have kids....
 
guyyanthony said:
its a scary world out there.... which worries me when i have kids....
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At least you are aware now. Many aren't even tech-savvy enough to keep up with this stuff ;D
Luckily though (for me), China can't really do anything in the UK as it's a democratic nation and I'd assume the same for Australia too!
 
~ True Legend ~ said:
At least you are aware now. Many aren't even tech-savvy enough to keep up with this stuff ;D
Luckily though (for me), China can't really do anything in the UK as it's a democratic nation and I'd assume the same for Australia too!
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It really does show you the internet is not safe at all for children.
until my kids can show me they can be responsible and safe online i wont be giving them access.
 
guyyanthony said:
until my kids can show me they can be responsible and safe online i wont be giving them access.
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While it's not my place to judge, this is of course a debate forum. Personally I think your approach is way too strict. Do you not think it's wise to educate kids on the risks, and give them some leash to enable them to grow up and learn about the real world? I think restricting access altogether will lead to kids being oblivious to dangers and making bad choices later in life.

Another question is, how can they prove they can be responsible and safe online BEFORE giving them access?
My view is that if a parent is very restrictive, the kid is more likely to go behind a parent's back. Having a relationship where your child is open and comfortable sharing everything they're up to with you is key.

That's my viewpoint and of course I respect yours and your parenting style :)
 
on another hand, you can provide them access but just be restricted to what they can view online, yes i agree that its too strict but how will they learn the dangers of the internet without being strict? i am protecting my kids from harmful experiences, or meeting up with people who aren't who they say they are.

you know what i mean?
 
guyyanthony said:
on another hand, you can provide them access but just be restricted to what they can view online, yes i agree that its too strict but how will they learn the dangers of the internet without being strict? i am protecting my kids from harmful experiences, or meeting up with people who aren't who they say they are.

you know what i mean?
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I suppose by setting rules and clear consequences. I don't believe in an authoritarian approach personally though, I believe that with freedom comes respect naturally, most people wouldn't abuse that goodwill when given :)

I have strong views that children should have a voice in what the rules should be and they should be set fairly so that THEY benefit from these rules just as much as you do, for your peace of mind.

But that's just me and everyone is entitled to their own views, and you of course don't need to justify yourself to me :)
 
I am against exposing ads to kids. I believe content targeted toward kids should be ad-free. Since kids are exposed to ads, they get interested in junk food. This has caused a huge problem. Today, you will see a lot of kids are deprived of necessary nutrients just because they are eating junk foods.
 
Nomad said:
I am against exposing ads to kids. I believe content targeted toward kids should be ad-free. Since kids are exposed to ads, they get interested in junk food. This has caused a huge problem. Today, you will see a lot of kids are deprived of necessary nutrients just because they are eating junk foods.
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Just to challenge you here.:cool:
Do you really feel this is related to ads though?

I mean, take any kid to the shops and they'll see something they really want, and throw a tantrum to get what they want.
So now the question is - do we stop taking kids to the shops? If you don't take them to shops, they won't learn about pricing and purchases. If you do, they'll grovel for what they want and throw a tantrum if it doesn't go their way.

Not to mention that junk food can be used for positive reinforcement for positive behaviours. i.e. eat healthy foods, and you get a packet of crisps. Or, do this chore and then eat a biscuit, do you homework and you get to eat a cake :)
 
They are not using cartoons as one of their best strategies to advertise to kids. It captures their heart so quickly and even influence their parents too because they see it's something that makes their kids happy, so they usually tend to buy into them.
 
Heatman said:
They are not using cartoons as one of their best strategies to advertise to kids. It captures their heart so quickly and even influence their parents too because they see it's something that makes their kids happy, so they usually tend to buy into them.
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They use animated characters in the ad for coco pops. While not cartoon, animated characters nevertheless capture attention of kids.
 
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