Advertising Ethics

Advertising is important, because it is informative and beneficial for people to know that a product or service exists. The goal of advertising is to create awareness of the product/ service, establish an identity, provide memorable information, and convince people they're better off it. There's also a truth behind the fact that most of these products/ services advertised aren't needed. But I will agree mostly on the side that advertising is information. It's there to inform us, we choose whether or not we want to purchase it out of necessity or desire.

Advertising have grown and flourished today. They help companies identify target market and give advices on how to reach the market. There are so many products out there that companies need to get people's attention on their own products/ services. Advertising helps make the product appealing to a person's basic motives, and influences their behavior and attitude with the product. I do believe that advertising shapes the society and culture. People wants to have a sense of belonging in the society that they follow the norm of what people think and act. We think and act based on the environment around us. It's like a basic instinct for survival. If we are born in the middle of a dangerous jungle, our basic instinct is to defend and protect ourselves. If I fall back and even become a burden, I will be ostracized by this jungle society. We are mostly born in this innovative and materialistic society, where everyone has access to all information, and we choose which one to follow so we won't fall back and become ostracized.

People think advertising is unethical for many reasons. The consequences of advertising shaping us can be harmful. It took advantage of children while they're young. Children learnt to find their identities within subtle advertising messages found everywhere on television, billboards, prints, etc. Most of these products can be harmful and unhealthy for children. For example, teens that were exposed to the tobacco and alcohol advertising at a younger age, claims the Joe Camel, Marlboro Man, and Budweiser Frog were the most recognizable icons they could think of. Most smokers began in their teen years.

Children also became victims of ultra, thin models in the fashion industry. Most of the fashion advertising is provocative and sensual, showing men and women with no clothes. Children then believe that they have to be thin and sexually attractive to be liked by peers.

As an advertising point of view, advertising to children is an effective strategy to build early loyalties to the brand. But if I am a parent, I will not want my children to be exposed with messages that become part of their lifestyle. It is not wrong to advertise to children. Advertising is just information and everyone of different age have the right of any information to make decisions in life. Since the society has