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Essay on Impact of Advertising on Children
Advertising can be defined as an incident or phenomenon that aims to influence people to buy products and services. However, it is striking to find that not many people realize the impact of advertisements in our day-to-day decision-making process. We do not realize how we are bombarded by advertisements – whether it is printed, electronic, indoor or outdoor advertisement. The target audience of an advertiser may be based on income group, age, race, ethnicity etc. each one of them having different characteristics and reacts differently.
IMPACT OF ADVERTISING ON CHILDREN:
The media has both its positive and negative effect on children. The positive factors may knowledge sharing about different cultures; spending time at home (with the family); may develop book-reading habit by comics of famous cartoon characters; children learn about new things. It helps then to know the external world and advertisements keeps them abreast with the latest developments and innovations and; Children may learn how to carry themselves. And one of the main advantages of media is that it provides this diverse information at remarkable ease. Whether its through TV, newspapers, magazines, web sites or hoarding – the information reaches the children through one way or other more quickly as compared to their parents.
However, at the same time this information is available to everyone - whether it is the target audience or not. Say for example, a cigarette advertisement, which is not intended for young kids, however when it is advertised, everyone views it – adults and children alike. While the media has become an important part of our life, there are certain things that we don’t want our children to be aware of at young age. We can restrict them to watch only kid’s prime time but what about the advertisements that that tells that Fighting and other violence may be used as a way to teach lesson to the bad guy......
