Article writing on caution on advertisement on children
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CAUTION ON ADVERTISEMENTS ON CHILDREN
Article by : (AUTHOR'S NAME)
The world is dealing with the paradox of choice and manufacturers are going to new lengths to make their product stand out from the lot. This translates to increased expenditure on advertisements and marketing, and innovative ads that are hard to miss. While these advertisements can be informative and help you make an informed choice, they may have certain effects on children and go as far as influence their decisions and even personality, in some cases.
1. Positive Impacts (ANY 5)
• They can be a source of information.
• Healthy food choices advertised the right way can also prompt the child to opt for a more balanced diet.
• Certain advertisements can help inculcate good habits in the child.
• Advertisements may also have motivating content that can encourage children to choose a profession.
• Advertisements that present other children of a similar age engaging in activities like helping out in the house or saving can influence kids to do the same.
• Certain advertisements that carry content relevant to social change can help promote empathy and a sense of duty towards the community in children.
• Environmental protection advertisements also call the attention of children towards the problem and can encourage them to be a part of the solution.
• Cautionary advertisements that reveal the consequences of alcohol and smoking can help children understand the risks associated, and urge them to stay clear of such products.
2. Negative Impacts (ANY 5)
• Persuasion to purchase a product they like can be a real problem.
• The message of the advertisement may be interpreted the wrong way and children may focus mainly on the negatives.
• Certain advertisements portray stunts that can be very dangerous.
• Every manufacturer wants a recurring business, which leads them to create flashy advertisements. The result of this is the development of an impulse buying habit in children.
• False imaging is another issue with advertisements that present things or events in an unrealistic manner and children tend to fall for it.
• Advertisements may also develop a materialistic idea of the world in the children.
• Brand consciousness and an affinity towards expensive branded items can be developed.
• A large portion of the food items advertised is junk food and are very visually appealing.
• Advertisements can also be a leading factor in influencing the choice of toys, clothes or luxuries of a child.
• Children may also tend to have lower self-esteem if they believe themselves to be inferior for not owning the various products that are advertised.
• The sexual objectification of women in some advertisements is a cause for concern, as children grow up to think that this is the norm.
• As many adverts have successfully managed to blur the line between real and reel life, children tend to believe the facade and lose touch with reality.
• Certain advertisements are known to use comparative visuals, which ultimately mock a person using a different product. This can instil the concept of inferior and superior in children.
• The visual portrayal of certain inappropriate acts in the adverts like lying or cheating can make a vulnerable child believe that the behaviour is acceptable.
Tips for Parents (ANY 5)
• Cut down on the screen time. Monitor the content that your kids are watching.
• When your child asks for a specific product, initiate a conversation with them about why they want it.
• Be sure to not give in to your child’s demands if you are convinced that the product being asked for is unhealthy.
• Point out the flaws in the advertisements that you cannot shield your child from and give a realistic picture to your child.
• Try to download television programs to avoid having to watch advertisements with your child.
• Help your child learn the difference between ‘needs’ and ‘wants’. And teach them to only ask for something that they need.
In a world of innovative advertisements that appear just about everywhere, it will be hard to shield your child from being exposed to most of them. Advertisement agencies have tried out every medium from television to print and from billboards to luggage tags in the airport to advertise products. Your child will inevitably see and consume the content of these advertisements. Hence, the best way to prevent the negativity caused by these adverts is to educate your child about the finer concepts of the marketing world.
hope it helped :)