I have to turn in this paper tomorrow, Its on how advertising effects how we raise our children. I have terrible grammar and no one to proof read my essay. I just want to see if it is okay and if there are any logical fallacies in it
"How Advertising Interferes with Parenting
Parents usually have the most influence over their children, but once a child reaches a certain age of discovery, they then become easily influenced by the outside world. This does not exclude the influence from advertisements. Advertising can have a negative impact on a child's development, alter their perceptions of good and bad, and even make them question the values that their parents have taught them. Michael Schudson's "Evaluation of Advertising" discusses these negative aspects of advertising and the way they can affect the lives of the consumer. The promotional culture associated with advertising has become an integral part of how parents in our present society raise their children. This current enticing culture has created negative consequences for the upbringing of today's youth, due to the fact that the advertising epidemic undermines and even sabotages the moral and ethical values parents instill in their children.
Parents teach their children that there is more to life than materialism, selfishness and the need to be accepted. "Too much advertising encourages and legitimates self-indulgence" (Schudson, 235) Viewing these advertisements time after time, may give children the impression that having material things is what constitutes happiness and acceptance. Children may then become selfish and materialistic because they do not understand that they do not need these products. Certain advertisements aimed towards children portray the message that they are a loser or not cool enough, if they do not get a specific new toy, shoe or clothing item that is hip. Children usually then beg their parents for these products because they think it will make them a better person. In some cases a parent may give into these demands and go against the morals they try to set for them, causing a bit of a hypocritical situation. These advertisements then make it more difficult for the parent to successfully stand their ground and hold true to the values they have taught their children.
Parents also teach their children to lead healthy lifestyles and to avoid the use of drugs and alcohol. Healthy living is something that we hope to ingrain in our children's lives at an early age in everything they do, from their eating habits to the choices they make when offered drugs or alcohol.
Unfortunately, it is difficult for that advice to hold strong when pharmaceutical drugs and alcohol commercials are sending the message to children that these substances are okay to use. Alcohol ads on television are especially intriguing to children. Some companies even use a pirates, cute dogs, or other silly animals in their television commercials, which we all know are not aimed at adults. "Liquor advertising to the young or to the heavy drinker, is it is effective even in the slightest, is socially costly and morally questionable." (Schudson, 234) Alcohol advertisements towards children are costing these children their innocence and these companies are gaining profit from it. Unfortunately, they do not care that parents need to spend countless hours telling their children the consequences of alcohol, tobacco or drug use since the marketing developed for these products often portray the exact opposite.
On the other hand there is a positive side of advertising which combats the alcohol and drug ads. The Truth ads portray the negative side of cigarette smoking and the Live above the influence ads which promote a drug free lifestyle. The only problem with these commercials is they are not selling anything and can be difficult for a child to comprehend. The majority of children are not interested or may not even be sure of what the drug even is. If they do not understand the meaning of the commercial then the message is not even successfully received and retained.
Parents also try to teach children to accept themselves for who they are and help them to attain a sense of assurance and self-confidence.
Unfortunately, this is tough these days due to the role of images in advertising. especially with all the advertisements that can affect a child's sense of self worth. Today's magazine advertisements and television are impossible to look away from. They are always in plain view of children. "The average viewer who watches four hours of television daily, sees at least 100 to 120 commercials a day, or 36,400 to 43,680 a year. Many of the images in our heads, [are from the world of big sell]"(Parenti, 203) This does not exclude the advertising images that display stick-thin models which distort the idea of an average persons size. This can have a very strong affect on a young girl, especially one who looks up to these models and strives to be like them. Seeing these images time after time, children may then become easily influenced into believing that this body size is the norm and may then begin to feel inadequate about their own body type. Viewing too many of these ads may be detrimental to a young girls psyche, which then can lead to low self-esteem, body dissatisfaction, and even eating disorders. Once these ideas are embedded into a child's mind it can be very difficult for the parent to reverse them.
"Marketers wrongly assume that since 'good advertising kills a bad product,' they can do little harm; people will only buy what they find satisfying. This works, as I have argued, only if people have enough information available to know what the range of possibilities is and how to purchase wisely." (Schudson, 231) Children are not equipped to know what their ranges of possibilities are or even how to purchase wisely. Therefore, they fall into a major portion of this category. In the society we live in today it is hard enough to successfully instill morality and other important values into our children, and advertisements always in their faces only makes it harder. Parents try to inform their children not fall victim to the negative aspects of advertising yet the irony of it all is that we ourselves as adults are falling victim to it everyday. What parents need to do is show their children that these ads are not an acceptable type of promotion and are not setting any proper examples which they should follow. Hopefully, these children can take that awareness and use it to not be persuaded by these marketers and their advertisements, which will benefit them not only in their childhood but even into adulthood. "
"How Advertising Interferes with Parenting
Parents usually have the most influence over their children, but once a child reaches a certain age of discovery, they then become easily influenced by the outside world. This does not exclude the influence from advertisements. Advertising can have a negative impact on a child's development, alter their perceptions of good and bad, and even make them question the values that their parents have taught them. Michael Schudson's "Evaluation of Advertising" discusses these negative aspects of advertising and the way they can affect the lives of the consumer. The promotional culture associated with advertising has become an integral part of how parents in our present society raise their children. This current enticing culture has created negative consequences for the upbringing of today's youth, due to the fact that the advertising epidemic undermines and even sabotages the moral and ethical values parents instill in their children.
Parents teach their children that there is more to life than materialism, selfishness and the need to be accepted. "Too much advertising encourages and legitimates self-indulgence" (Schudson, 235) Viewing these advertisements time after time, may give children the impression that having material things is what constitutes happiness and acceptance. Children may then become selfish and materialistic because they do not understand that they do not need these products. Certain advertisements aimed towards children portray the message that they are a loser or not cool enough, if they do not get a specific new toy, shoe or clothing item that is hip. Children usually then beg their parents for these products because they think it will make them a better person. In some cases a parent may give into these demands and go against the morals they try to set for them, causing a bit of a hypocritical situation. These advertisements then make it more difficult for the parent to successfully stand their ground and hold true to the values they have taught their children.
Parents also teach their children to lead healthy lifestyles and to avoid the use of drugs and alcohol. Healthy living is something that we hope to ingrain in our children's lives at an early age in everything they do, from their eating habits to the choices they make when offered drugs or alcohol.
Unfortunately, it is difficult for that advice to hold strong when pharmaceutical drugs and alcohol commercials are sending the message to children that these substances are okay to use. Alcohol ads on television are especially intriguing to children. Some companies even use a pirates, cute dogs, or other silly animals in their television commercials, which we all know are not aimed at adults. "Liquor advertising to the young or to the heavy drinker, is it is effective even in the slightest, is socially costly and morally questionable." (Schudson, 234) Alcohol advertisements towards children are costing these children their innocence and these companies are gaining profit from it. Unfortunately, they do not care that parents need to spend countless hours telling their children the consequences of alcohol, tobacco or drug use since the marketing developed for these products often portray the exact opposite.
On the other hand there is a positive side of advertising which combats the alcohol and drug ads. The Truth ads portray the negative side of cigarette smoking and the Live above the influence ads which promote a drug free lifestyle. The only problem with these commercials is they are not selling anything and can be difficult for a child to comprehend. The majority of children are not interested or may not even be sure of what the drug even is. If they do not understand the meaning of the commercial then the message is not even successfully received and retained.
Parents also try to teach children to accept themselves for who they are and help them to attain a sense of assurance and self-confidence.
Unfortunately, this is tough these days due to the role of images in advertising. especially with all the advertisements that can affect a child's sense of self worth. Today's magazine advertisements and television are impossible to look away from. They are always in plain view of children. "The average viewer who watches four hours of television daily, sees at least 100 to 120 commercials a day, or 36,400 to 43,680 a year. Many of the images in our heads, [are from the world of big sell]"(Parenti, 203) This does not exclude the advertising images that display stick-thin models which distort the idea of an average persons size. This can have a very strong affect on a young girl, especially one who looks up to these models and strives to be like them. Seeing these images time after time, children may then become easily influenced into believing that this body size is the norm and may then begin to feel inadequate about their own body type. Viewing too many of these ads may be detrimental to a young girls psyche, which then can lead to low self-esteem, body dissatisfaction, and even eating disorders. Once these ideas are embedded into a child's mind it can be very difficult for the parent to reverse them.
"Marketers wrongly assume that since 'good advertising kills a bad product,' they can do little harm; people will only buy what they find satisfying. This works, as I have argued, only if people have enough information available to know what the range of possibilities is and how to purchase wisely." (Schudson, 231) Children are not equipped to know what their ranges of possibilities are or even how to purchase wisely. Therefore, they fall into a major portion of this category. In the society we live in today it is hard enough to successfully instill morality and other important values into our children, and advertisements always in their faces only makes it harder. Parents try to inform their children not fall victim to the negative aspects of advertising yet the irony of it all is that we ourselves as adults are falling victim to it everyday. What parents need to do is show their children that these ads are not an acceptable type of promotion and are not setting any proper examples which they should follow. Hopefully, these children can take that awareness and use it to not be persuaded by these marketers and their advertisements, which will benefit them not only in their childhood but even into adulthood. "
