Whether they are watching TV or flipping through a magazine, teenagers are bombarded with advertising everywhere and this has consequences. Companies know that adolescents are vulnerable and likely to consume their products if effectively advertised through the media.
As a result, some companies focus on young people who are much more gullible than adults as far as their advertising campaigns are concerned. Although the effects of advertising can be harmful to teens, it is possible to combat the harms of such advertising by being proactive about what the children see and interact with.
Even though it is clear that alcohol advertising is aimed at adults, a new study published on JAMA Pediatrics suggests that this also reaches and impacts millions of children and adolescents. The Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs also points out that middle-school kids are exposed to several alcohol ads per day and a finding revealed that the quantity of brand-specific advertising exposure is associated with the total quantity of consumption of those advertised brands
Alcohol advertising has a particularly negative influence on teenagers, as per CNN. Alcohol businesses tend to focus on young people who are susceptible to these advertisements. The publication reports that snuff advertising is more influential in getting young people to take the habit compared to family members and friends who smoke.
As reported by the publication, one-third of all cases of adolescent smokers may be linked to advertising. Teen drinking is a similar trend where a large number of teenage drinkers began the habit by exposure to alcohol advertising.
According to The Irish Times, advertising can make young people believe there is a cure for every problem they face and can lead to dangerous and addictive habits. But parents do not have to feel completely helpless in the battle against the influences of advertising.
Teaching children media literacy at school and at home can help mitigate some of the effects of what children see in the media. The American Psychological Association recommends encouraging teenagers to spend time at home away from abundant sources of advertising around them and talk to them about how and why certain tempting ads are produced by corporations.
Do you agree that advertisements could have negative effects on children? Sound off in the comments section below.
