Generally, the youth is targeted when it comes to showcasing the high caloric snacks that we all love and know. This article explores the effect that the advertising has on our youth by offering some statistics about childhood obesity. I believe that the article is exploring not only a correlation of advertisements to child hood obesity but also a causation. There isn't a coincidence of child hood obesity being associated with our exposure to the internet and other media outlets, but a direct relationship between the two. Food advertisements make up fifty percent of the advertisements on child programming, with this being said, the advertisement companies are specifically targeting the young. This may be because they're the most impressionable, not only because that is who is usually using the television. Another facet of advertising is using websites to traffic more attention to the unhealthy goods. Knowing that the majority of internet users are in their teens, companies look to sidebar advertisements on big name websites such as a social media outlet. And last but not least, even in our schools unhealthy snacks are being advertised in the vending machines and offered to kids for a short fuel to get through their eight hour day of learning. Because the youth has already been exposed to the effects, it is our job to expose ourselves to the effects of unhealthful food advertising. You may utilize this article to identify the parasitic relationship that advertisements have on children, and educate yourself on how to prevent this propaganda.
http://www.apa.org/topics/kids-media/food.aspx
This is a very interesting topic that many people don't realize is happening. There is unhealthy foods constantly surrounding the youth of today, and no one's doing anything to stop it even though childhood obesity rates are skyrocketing. Even in grocery stores, those sugary cereals are put at a child's eye level so they can reach it more easily.
ReplyDeleteIt's disgusting how corporations are trying to exploit children due to their easily influenced minds.
This is a fascinating topic! It is true that young people (especially kids) are mostly targeted into buying very unhealthy foods especially in snacks. They are targeted possibly because we are seen as naive or easy to convince that these foods are indeed what we need in our lives. I believe kids are the most targeted ( or I would assume) since people use their favorite cartoon characters as advertisement. Ex. Spongebob, Flintstones, etc. And even more so when it comes to fast food restaurants. Fast Foods have come up with ways to create "lovable" characters in their companies, like Ronald McDonald, The King in Burger King and even Jack from Jack in the box in order to gain young peoples favor. This could also explain why children have a higher obesity rate and why they are linked to having so many health issues.
ReplyDeleteNot only do people use children's favorite characters as a tool to sell their items, but children are also exposed to many fast food restaurants as well. Families environments can also be a huge factor as to why there are so many health problems in that region and how it is mostly young persons who are affected.
I definitely think advertisement among teens or young kids is an interesting topic because it is open to many possible variables on who is mostly affected in health issues, and what region is mostly targeted to eat these foods.