If you are an advertiser trying to sell products to today's children, you can no longer run a campaign with a group of happy kids munching happily on a bowl of Cheerios. This would be laughable to modern kids today, old-fashioned and certainly not their type of language. Computer savvy kids in this generation are speaking a new language, that of video games and the internet. Television used to be the means of choice to get to children, but now there is a new channel through which to push products and ideas.
Children love to play video games. There is nothing wrong with that in itself. Online games come with great interest and creativity holding a child's attention and many parents looking on would even be impressed with some of them for learning value. For example, one can play a game where a child can create their own comic strip in a matter of minutes. If one looks a bit closer though, one finds that the creators of the game take all sorts of opportunities to punt child-targeted products. Some examples may be a particular snack or junk food. These advertisers know that there is a good chance the child will choose these as preferred products at the next opportunity. They also know that the child will tell their friends about the game or the product. Perhaps they should really be paying marketing fees to these kids.
As marketers design and use their own apps and games to target our kids wherever they use technology, on their phones and personal computers, it becomes more difficult for parents to instill responsible food choices in their children. The White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity has been activated out of concern for this issue, particularly by the First Lady. This task force places the blame for weight problems experienced by young people today, squarely at the foot of these unfair marketing ploys. The Federal Trade Commission is also looking into these marketing approaches and is set to make their own recommendations.
Children are being attracted to websites to play video games. While on these sites manufacturers are heavily advertising to the users in ways that they would never be permitted to on television. There are laws existing to restrict this type of marketing over our television screens. TV has been around for long enough there has been time to restrict how advertisers influence children watching. Now, children have access to and are switching their time and attention to Facebook and video games. These things are so new that Government has not had opportunity or time yet to investigate and put measures in place.
It is surely now on the shoulders of today's parents to step into the gap and keep watch until the necessary laws are in place. Phones and personal computers are so popular and are almost a part of this generation's dna. Held closely by each user, these very intimately held devices create an unmistakable opportunity for marketers to abuse their privileges into a child's mind. Do we want our children to be so unashamedly targeted and influenced? Each one of us needs to be the judge.
Children love to play video games. There is nothing wrong with that in itself. Online games come with great interest and creativity holding a child's attention and many parents looking on would even be impressed with some of them for learning value. For example, one can play a game where a child can create their own comic strip in a matter of minutes. If one looks a bit closer though, one finds that the creators of the game take all sorts of opportunities to punt child-targeted products. Some examples may be a particular snack or junk food. These advertisers know that there is a good chance the child will choose these as preferred products at the next opportunity. They also know that the child will tell their friends about the game or the product. Perhaps they should really be paying marketing fees to these kids.
As marketers design and use their own apps and games to target our kids wherever they use technology, on their phones and personal computers, it becomes more difficult for parents to instill responsible food choices in their children. The White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity has been activated out of concern for this issue, particularly by the First Lady. This task force places the blame for weight problems experienced by young people today, squarely at the foot of these unfair marketing ploys. The Federal Trade Commission is also looking into these marketing approaches and is set to make their own recommendations.
Children are being attracted to websites to play video games. While on these sites manufacturers are heavily advertising to the users in ways that they would never be permitted to on television. There are laws existing to restrict this type of marketing over our television screens. TV has been around for long enough there has been time to restrict how advertisers influence children watching. Now, children have access to and are switching their time and attention to Facebook and video games. These things are so new that Government has not had opportunity or time yet to investigate and put measures in place.
It is surely now on the shoulders of today's parents to step into the gap and keep watch until the necessary laws are in place. Phones and personal computers are so popular and are almost a part of this generation's dna. Held closely by each user, these very intimately held devices create an unmistakable opportunity for marketers to abuse their privileges into a child's mind. Do we want our children to be so unashamedly targeted and influenced? Each one of us needs to be the judge.
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Want to find out more about children's entertainment, then visit Waterston Entertainment's site for a company who's passion is to create wholesome, educational entertainment for children.
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