Advertising Influence on Children
Advertising on television and through other sources of media, is influencing the children and teens of the U.S.A in an unhealthy way. All of the articles are telling facts about how advertising has a negative effect on childhood obesity in the United States, and also how the way they are marketing unhealthy foods to young children is manipulative and corrupt. The main topics of all four articles were advertising. They are advertising unhealthy products to kids all throughout the day, through television, newspapers, and magazines. Throughout the entire day, 34% of all junk food advertisements are targeted towards teens and young children. Teens, while watching television, see an average of 17 ads per day, while children between 8 and 12 years old see an average of 21 ads per day. The more advertising there is towards younger children, the more tempted they will become to want to get junk food and other things that aren’t healthy for them. Always getting unhealthy foods, obese children can develop type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleeping problems, orthopedic problems, and depression.
But not all of the advertisements are affecting them negatively. Once in awhile you will see an advertisement for fitness, or healthy food. Like you flip on the T.V. and you see a commercial for some sort of exercise equipment. Or you will see an advertisement for Subway, milk, or even trying to influence you to become more physically active. More and more fast food companies are making more healthy food decisions for their customers. They are trying to give the people healthier options for their food choices, like they would give you a healthier choice at a fast food stop like a salad, or an unbreaded chicken sandwich. Also they are also trying to help children by having ads that show children running outside or playing with their friends on the beach and having a good time. But the bad thing is that they only show 1 fitness ad every 2-3 days. But they only show them 165 times a year. So in a way they should have more advertisements gearing towards children playing outside instead of sitting inside on the computer or in front of the television. But what they were mostly trying to say is that no matter what, the media influences you in many ways, both good AND bad.
Sources:
Letter To the Editor
220 Amherst Avenue
Sheboygan Falls, WI 53085
632 Center Ave.
The Sheboygan Press
P.O. Box 358
Sheboygan, WI 53081
Editor:
As children we always used to spend our time playing outdoors. We used to play tag with our friends, or just go to the park and play basketball. But now as the years have passed, all you see is empty playgrounds, deflated basketballs lying helplessly on the floor of garages. And what is the reason for these circumstances? We think the reason is television, advertising to children. They spend all their time watching their favorite shows which, over time, will lead to childhood obesity and other dangerous diseases.
One thing local parents could do to help solve the ever growing dilemma of childhood obesity is persuading children to get involved in more outdoor activities. Some things that could also help would be turning off the television and enjoying some family activities or provoking recreational activities. This way the children could exercise instead of sitting at home and being lazy. This way the kids of today, and the kids of the future, can stay strong and healthy because they exercised.
Also, some things that the media could do to resolve this problem would be that they could use children’s favorite cartoon characters and make them advertise healthy foods and more calorie burning activities for children to try. They could have SpongeBob advertise for healthier, less sugary, cereal. Or they could have more advertisements with athletes persuading kids to play more sports and drink more milk or healthy beverages. This way kids will not only have better influences, but they will also have healthier lifestyles.
Just think about how our children’s futures could be. They could go on to be a famous NFL quarterback, or they could be a professional basketball player, or a major league baseball player. And think of how much healthier our children and their children could be, if only they had healthier influences. And they could achieve these things from your help.
Thank you,
Jessica T,
Gregory S,
Iain F,
Melissa R
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