Banning advertisement from television can be a highly heated debated question. “The average child is exposed to more than 40,000 TV commercials a year.” (Dittmen, 2004). Some who are against an advertisement ban say that it the parent’s responsibility to monitor their children when they are in front of a television, but do that that twenty-four hours a day is an impossible task in my mind. Also those against a ban find that the companies whom own stations run advertisement so they can continue to show their programs. In regards to advertisement on children programming the FCC has a law against what they may show during children programming. In today’s time advertisement can be seen on a daily basis constantly. People who are for a ban feel that a child can become badly psychological influence from whets on television. I strongly agree that a ban should occur during the hours of children programming. Commercials can send a false sense of information.
A Good reason to place a ban on advertisement is that in most commercial you see promoting name brand cereals they can send the wrong message to a child. In almost all commercials the child actors seem happy and joyous. Is it really because of the cereal or toy? So in return what a child does is nag their parents until they get the product that they desire because it will make them happier. Some companies use mascots to get their products out on the market I find this as a ploy. Characters like Dora the Explorer, Ronald McDonald are tools used to gain a child sense of trust. There comes a point when you can remember characters on television and not understand basic grammar there is a broken line of communication. Children minds are too young and they are still learning. Do advertisers really think kids have the concept of a company trying to sell everything and anything? I don’t believe they do because to them it’s all about marketing to the right group and receiving gross income. Kids constantly come into contact with mild nudity that might also be seen on movie trailers that shows there favorite super hero or celebrity.
Commercials also can provide children with a false sense of information. It can have them wanting anything that’s shown to them. In today’s time commercials have persuasive points attached to them which children don’t understand. Shows that are shown on CBS are great for kids to learn and increase their attention span and learning ability. There should be a limit though to what is shown on children programming. “Research has shown that young children younger than 8 years are cognitively and psychologically defenseless against advertising.”(American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Communications, 2006).The way advertisers consistently show there product every fifteen minutes is ridiculous. The same time a child is watching T.V their minds are remembering the product flashed in their eyes.
During late at night most companies have advertisement playing sometimes after eight o’clock or as early as seven in the morning. “In Greece they ban toy advertising until after 10 PM, and Denmark and Belgium severely restrict advertising aimed at children.”(American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Communications, 2006). Maybe we should implement there system and see if it can add more awareness to advertisers.
I honestly think they should try showing commercials on how to keep reading and why or math is important something beside violence seen from movies trailers or misleading commercials "Each year children read less and less and watch television more and more.”(Kaufman, 1996). More time should be spent with the parents where they can sit down and eat dinner without the worry of having to watch Television or playing on the computer. Parent should set limitation on the amount of Television that their kids watch and monitor their internet activity. “Ads are reaching children through new media technologies and even in schools with corporate sponsored educational materials and product placements in students' textbooks.” (Dittmen, 2004).Time with children can be spent talking or taking kids out and teaching them about moral, respect and responsibilities. The corporate big league will continue their ways unless we as parents raise a voice.
Most reasons advertisers feel a ban is not necessary or needed is because it places more limits on their advertisement. Some commercials can benefit the audience if it’s directed in the right way. Also it’s not illegal for them show ads and it’s not mind manipulation. They have a right to produce a product and sell it. For advertisers money coming in is sometimes donated to charity so they can catch a tax break. “Increasingly, advertisers are seeking to find new and creative ways of targeting young consumers via the Internet, in schools, and even in bathroom stalls.” (American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Communications, 2006).The amount of money made by corporations is outrageously enormous. The only way to really get a product out into the market is to advertise it. The way in which they handle their marketing can be beneficial when properly produced for the right age group. Good organization like D.A.R.E, Boys and Girls Scout and the YMCA help children.
“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” (Dittmen, 2004). If they own the station they need advertisement to collect and pay the television shows. Most money really goes to a greater cause for children like new schools or better teaching materials for their education. Companies and advertisers have reached out to broaden their marketing field like having their product over the internet or in magazines to increase their marketing audience.
I feel that it’s only appropriate to arrange a ban on what children watch either at home or in the general public. Commercials intentionally use manipulating tactics to sway a customer to buy a product. They really are not trying hard to disguise the facts that they are using bad tactics. Although “The Children's Television Act of 1990” was passed, it’s a great start but more laws need to be enforced to make sure that educational programmings are being played by advertisers. Iron hands need to start coming down on those that feel it’s necessary to mind induce children. Because of today’s technology like internet and digital television that children constantly come into contact with along-with many other trademark tools to grab a child’s attention. All issues on both sides need to be addressed to the public so we can better educate are children. With the growing age of our society commercials and advertisement can be viewed in all locations. The time for congress to review “The Children’s Television Act” is long overdue. If we are to elevate the next generation of children on another level then we must insure they-continually receive the correct information and are not left mislead by corporate advertisement and its dreadful psychological effects.
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