Question

Eassy article on effect of advertisement on youngsters

Answer 1

During any given day, a person is exposed to a constant stream of advertising. It has become a part of life, quietly seeping into the subconscious while watching television programs, shopping for groceries, or even on the daily commutes. The main purpose of advertising is to illicit an emotion that drives us to purchase the end product. They influence attitudes, ideas and behaviors in those watching, and unfortunately those shifts aren’t always toward the positive. In the last ten years, there has been a large increase in the teenage population with anorexia and obesity disorders(Dens 368). According to another article, underage consumption of alcohol and tobacco has increased by 38% in 6 years (Jernigan 23). 
The content or pitch of said propaganda is the the main problem at hand. Although the products being marketed vary, the techniques and images used to sell them are generally the same. The focus has changed from the product to the consumers sense of self worth and success. On the negative spectrum of the scale some of the visual imagery used to sell products is sexually driven and misleading as most are computer generated or associate a positive emotion with a product. In order to warn the public of such content, television programming is forced to adhere disclaimers at the beginning of shows where questionable matter is included. For advertising however, no such warning exists. 
Due to the lack of advisories, advertisements effect on the youth is a particularly hot button issue. One problem that many believe is directly influenced by advertising is that of childhood obesity. In an article published by the Coalition on Food Advertising to Children, television advertising was listed as the primary cause, among other issues such as lack of physical activity, for the rapid increase of obese children (Udell). The same article showed an estimated 30% of the children in nation as obese According to Tuesday Udell, the author of an article titled Two sides at War, there have been many studies that show there are “high levels of unhealthy food advertising during children’s viewing times” The evolution of Technology has brought in this change in the lifestyle of youth. The kind of exposure these youth have towards Internet, Television, print and other medias propels one to re think on the effects that these advertisements have on the minds of the young generation.