The second one says, "They aren't children as much as what we like to call 'evolving consumers,'" Just thinking about the fact that to marketing executives, kids are no longer kids, just people they will take money from as soon as they have it in their grasp. Children should not be thought of this way.
I agree that some of the ways companies market to children are unethical. It seems as though companies are trying to brainwash children at a young age to buy their products. By plastering the image of a child's favorite character or superhero on all sorts of items, companies can sell just about anything they can think of. Often, a child will want something just because it features their favorite character or TV show. I feel that young children should not be taken advantage of in this way, but ultimately, the goal of big corporations is to make money, and they will do just about anything to do so. Therefore, I see this only becoming a bigger problem in the future.
I do believe that advertising towards children is wrong, since they don't know what the main objective of the ads are, and that is to make but the kids see these ads as a way for them to have the opportunity posses the stuff that they love. But I also do agree with McDonald's CEO saying that it is the parents who are responsible for deciding what to buy and feed their children since they have the money. Yes, parents to like to see their kids happy by buying their kids things like Happy Meals or food with their favorite TV character on them; however it is the parents to control the money and have the authority. It would be ridiculous for a parent to say that they had to buy a product because their kid said they have to. The problem with today's society is that parents are basically spoiling their children, which needs to stop because the negative affect in the future is that the child will become completely dependent on their parents. I was lucky to have parents that were strict on money since we were a low income family, eventually I knew that I couldn't have everything I wanted so I stopped asking and just went to the toy section of department stores just to look around.
Not only McDonalds is trying to use children to make their parents buy thier product, but also all the disney characters. In commercials their are many ways they get to children. They put their favorite princess, super hero, cars, etc to make children want this more and more. They do not only give out one same toy to every children they give out a variety of toys. Why would they do this? Because that way they can get children more into the happy meal until they collect the whole serious of the toys. I really think this is wrong trying to brainwash the children. But, i know thier is no way that this is going to stop because companies only want money. Probably near the future this is going to happen more frequently.
The fact that the marketing companies don't think of little kids as being kids anymore is sad. This shows how people only think about making money and not how their decisions effect others.
Companies know that kids are their target point. They know exactly what to do get kids attention so they can fall for it and buy the product. Children don't see anything bad with this and don't see what companies are trying to do. No its not like the commercial says 'have it your way' or whatever logo they use, they make it seem like we cant live without that product and we NEED it.
Reading these slides actually made me laugh a little because they are so realistic and true. I was just thinking to myself how many times I've fallen for ads or commercials for kids. Advertisers aren't dumb, they know exactly who to target to get the revenue they want. They also know kids aren't dumb either and if they see a toy or food product with a character they like on it, they're going to want it. They will beg their parents until the parent eventually gives in, giving the advertiser their money. No parent wants a whining kid now do they?
What i find brilliant about these Baby Einstein products is simply the name. Without a doubt the deepest desire parents have is for their child to be successful and smart, we have all heard about Albert Einstein, his name has a direct subconscious link to a genius. Also, as a society we seek for the fastest easiest way to get results, so if it has Einsteins name on it...it must give good results. However Einstein did not get smart by watching a DVDs. There is nothing like good old fashion reading
Advertisers know exactly who to target to make profit and they don't care even if it has to be kids. Kids are so easy to target because they don't really know what they want and when they see a character they saw in a movie or TV show on other products they will do anything to get their parents to buy it. In my opinion advertisers should not target kids because the kids don't buy the products the parents do so shouldn't advertisers get into the parents head? They don't do this because it is so much easier to brainwash a child who has no clue what they want. This is probably not the most ethical thing to do, but they don't care as long as they get their money at the end of the day.
If a company wants to sell more junk food to children all they have to do is put a cartoon character's face on the box or make the product more "fun" like the fruit snack checkers that was on one of the slides. Children would much rather choose a snack with their favorite cartoon character on the box than just plain packaging and their parents buy these products for them because it will keep their child happy. Children was to associate with their childhood heroes in any way possible so what better way is there for companies to take advantage of that besides marketing these images on food and beverage packaging?
Children have no knowledge of how the media is trying to manipulate them, thus making it almost cruel to advertise directly to children. They are dominated by their id, a psychological term refering to the part of their brains that is driven by wants. Advertisers and company big wigs know this, and exploit it accordingly. For instance, the slideshow displays multiple pictures of Brach's candy and fruit snacks plastered with pictures of super heros and Disney princesses. All young children know is that their favorite character is on the box, and therefore they want it. another example would be the toys in McDonald's Happy meals, telling kids to "collect them all". Marketing to kids in this way is almost as ingenious as it is wrong. Children decide they want something they saw advertised on tv, and immediatly run to their parents, who may or may not have a hard time resisting their little ones. All in all, this is wrong on multiple levels, as much as it is a smart marketing campaign.
I think that big corporations trying to manipulate little kids to "nag" to their parents to buy their products is wrong. On one of the slides of the presentation it stated that the corporations want to make parenting harder and I think that by doing that they are making the children nag for things then making the parents bad and also by that the parents would have to buy more products for themselves to maybe help control their child (books, videos, products or whatever) so with this they are spending double the money to get the child what they want and to get what they need to help control that child. Also, by putting Spongebob on junk food products it's helping to show little kids that if they eat that product they are cool like Spongebob or just the fact it has Spongebob on it, the child just wants to associate with it and by eating all that unhealthy food they become obese! There was also a point made that children who are materialistic become anxious and can have low self-esteem. These corporations don't care that they are affecting these innocent children by giving them lasting effects.
It is very easy for commercials to persuade little kids especially if they're being showed on a kid channel like where they see sesame street or nickelodeon for example. They know they will have them at the palm of their hands because kids will immidiatley go to their parents and tell them "mommy mommy i want that toy for my b-day , look it's so cool you have to get it for me please" which usually works because they want to satisfy their children into having the lastest toys. With that it shows that the ad for a toy was succesfull because parents did get it for their kids
I find this advertising unethical in a way. Kids see their favorite characters in commercials, ads, store windows, etc. and want what they see. They have no limits to even grasping the idea of what advertisers want or that they fall victim to these ads. But, the reality is that this will never stop, advertisers have to aim at children to bring in income. It works so why not?
Although I disagree with the methods used to market to children, I do understand the desire or even neccessity of doing so. Companies focus their marketing on what kids want or think they need to have and they do it in such a way that parents won't be able to deny them it. Children look up to superheroes or t.v. show characters and they want to be like them and thus, have all their products. It's unfair to do that to children because they dont know how they're being decieved, but if it works, companies wont stop doing it to make a little more money. Its the sad truth, and theres not much that can be done about it by someone outside of the companies.
I don't think it really matters if advertising to children is unethical from the CEO's point of view. Look at any cigarette company, their product is much more dangerous than a McDonalds happy meal and toy. Obviously it is the parents are responsible for what their children consume since they get the paycheck. I have yet to see a 5 year old ask for job applications after nap time. What children consume today are different than the children of the past, and I do not talk only about food. Our entire society will not change based on the morals of a few parental consumers.
The second one says, "They aren't children as much as what we like to call 'evolving consumers,'" Just thinking about the fact that to marketing executives, kids are no longer kids, just people they will take money from as soon as they have it in their grasp. Children should not be thought of this way.
ReplyDeleteI agree that some of the ways companies market to children are unethical. It seems as though companies are trying to brainwash children at a young age to buy their products. By plastering the image of a child's favorite character or superhero on all sorts of items, companies can sell just about anything they can think of. Often, a child will want something just because it features their favorite character or TV show. I feel that young children should not be taken advantage of in this way, but ultimately, the goal of big corporations is to make money, and they will do just about anything to do so. Therefore, I see this only becoming a bigger problem in the future.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that advertising towards children is wrong, since they don't know what the main objective of the ads are, and that is to make but the kids see these ads as a way for them to have the opportunity posses the stuff that they love. But I also do agree with McDonald's CEO saying that it is the parents who are responsible for deciding what to buy and feed their children since they have the money. Yes, parents to like to see their kids happy by buying their kids things like Happy Meals or food with their favorite TV character on them; however it is the parents to control the money and have the authority. It would be ridiculous for a parent to say that they had to buy a product because their kid said they have to. The problem with today's society is that parents are basically spoiling their children, which needs to stop because the negative affect in the future is that the child will become completely dependent on their parents. I was lucky to have parents that were strict on money since we were a low income family, eventually I knew that I couldn't have everything I wanted so I stopped asking and just went to the toy section of department stores just to look around.
ReplyDeleteNot only McDonalds is trying to use children to make their parents buy thier product, but also all the disney characters. In commercials their are many ways they get to children. They put their favorite princess, super hero, cars, etc to make children want this more and more. They do not only give out one same toy to every children they give out a variety of toys. Why would they do this? Because that way they can get children more into the happy meal until they collect the whole serious of the toys. I really think this is wrong trying to brainwash the children. But, i know thier is no way that this is going to stop because companies only want money. Probably near the future this is going to happen more frequently.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that the marketing companies don't think of little kids as being kids anymore is sad. This shows how people only think about making money and not how their decisions effect others.
ReplyDeleteCompanies know that kids are their target point. They know exactly what to do get kids attention so they can fall for it and buy the product. Children don't see anything bad with this and don't see what companies are trying to do. No its not like the commercial says 'have it your way' or whatever logo they use, they make it seem like we cant live without that product and we NEED it.
ReplyDeleteReading these slides actually made me laugh a little because they are so realistic and true. I was just thinking to myself how many times I've fallen for ads or commercials for kids. Advertisers aren't dumb, they know exactly who to target to get the revenue they want. They also know kids aren't dumb either and if they see a toy or food product with a character they like on it, they're going to want it. They will beg their parents until the parent eventually gives in, giving the advertiser their money. No parent wants a whining kid now do they?
ReplyDeleteWhat i find brilliant about these Baby Einstein products is simply the name. Without a doubt the deepest desire parents have is for their child to be successful and smart, we have all heard about Albert Einstein, his name has a direct subconscious link to a genius. Also, as a society we seek for the fastest easiest way to get results, so if it has Einsteins name on it...it must give good results. However Einstein did not get smart by watching a DVDs. There is nothing like good old fashion reading
ReplyDeleteAdvertisers know exactly who to target to make profit and they don't care even if it has to be kids. Kids are so easy to target because they don't really know what they want and when they see a character they saw in a movie or TV show on other products they will do anything to get their parents to buy it. In my opinion advertisers should not target kids because the kids don't buy the products the parents do so shouldn't advertisers get into the parents head? They don't do this because it is so much easier to brainwash a child who has no clue what they want. This is probably not the most ethical thing to do, but they don't care as long as they get their money at the end of the day.
ReplyDeleteIf a company wants to sell more junk food to children all they have to do is put a cartoon character's face on the box or make the product more "fun" like the fruit snack checkers that was on one of the slides. Children would much rather choose a snack with their favorite cartoon character on the box than just plain packaging and their parents buy these products for them because it will keep their child happy. Children was to associate with their childhood heroes in any way possible so what better way is there for companies to take advantage of that besides marketing these images on food and beverage packaging?
ReplyDeleteChildren have no knowledge of how the media is trying to manipulate them, thus making it almost cruel to advertise directly to children. They are dominated by their id, a psychological term refering to the part of their brains that is driven by wants. Advertisers and company big wigs know this, and exploit it accordingly. For instance, the slideshow displays multiple pictures of Brach's candy and fruit snacks plastered with pictures of super heros and Disney princesses. All young children know is that their favorite character is on the box, and therefore they want it. another example would be the toys in McDonald's Happy meals, telling kids to "collect them all". Marketing to kids in this way is almost as ingenious as it is wrong. Children decide they want something they saw advertised on tv, and immediatly run to their parents, who may or may not have a hard time resisting their little ones. All in all, this is wrong on multiple levels, as much as it is a smart marketing campaign.
ReplyDeleteI think that big corporations trying to manipulate little kids to "nag" to their parents to buy their products is wrong. On one of the slides of the presentation it stated that the corporations want to make parenting harder and I think that by doing that they are making the children nag for things then making the parents bad and also by that the parents would have to buy more products for themselves to maybe help control their child (books, videos, products or whatever) so with this they are spending double the money to get the child what they want and to get what they need to help control that child. Also, by putting Spongebob on junk food products it's helping to show little kids that if they eat that product they are cool like Spongebob or just the fact it has Spongebob on it, the child just wants to associate with it and by eating all that unhealthy food they become obese! There was also a point made that children who are materialistic become anxious and can have low self-esteem. These corporations don't care that they are affecting these innocent children by giving them lasting effects.
ReplyDeleteIt is very easy for commercials to persuade little kids especially if they're being showed on a kid channel like where they see sesame street or nickelodeon for example. They know they will have them at the palm of their hands because kids will immidiatley go to their parents and tell them "mommy mommy i want that toy for my b-day , look it's so cool you have to get it for me please" which usually works because they want to satisfy their children into having the lastest toys. With that it shows that the ad for a toy was succesfull because parents did get it for their kids
ReplyDeleteI find this advertising unethical in a way. Kids see their favorite characters in commercials, ads, store windows, etc. and want what they see. They have no limits to even grasping the idea of what advertisers want or that they fall victim to these ads. But, the reality is that this will never stop, advertisers have to aim at children to bring in income. It works so why not?
ReplyDeleteAlthough I disagree with the methods used to market to children, I do understand the desire or even neccessity of doing so. Companies focus their marketing on what kids want or think they need to have and they do it in such a way that parents won't be able to deny them it. Children look up to superheroes or t.v. show characters and they want to be like them and thus, have all their products. It's unfair to do that to children because they dont know how they're being decieved, but if it works, companies wont stop doing it to make a little more money. Its the sad truth, and theres not much that can be done about it by someone outside of the companies.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it really matters if advertising to children is unethical from the CEO's point of view. Look at any cigarette company, their product is much more dangerous than a McDonalds happy meal and toy. Obviously it is the parents are responsible for what their children consume since they get the paycheck. I have yet to see a 5 year old ask for job applications after nap time. What children consume today are different than the children of the past, and I do not talk only about food. Our entire society will not change based on the morals of a few parental consumers.
ReplyDelete