[JohnJamesRambo]

What is wrong with advertising to children? They don't have any money, the parents can always say no or the kids can learn quickly how to determine if they should do what ads tell them to do. They will greatly need that skill in modern America. Teach them early haha.

[lightbyte]

>the kids can learn quickly how to determine if they should do what ads tell them to do.

The problem is they can not do this at all. Children are extremely easy to manipulate, and that is pretty much what advertising is.

[ruleabidinguser]

As a kid I quickly learnt to distrust ads, so I'm not sure why you think kids can't do this. They may not be adults, but they're not robots either.

[emodendroket]

Somehow I don't trust your own judgment of your ability as a child, especially when it is in contrast with the experience of most people and the findings of researchers.

[ruleabidinguser]

I recall it exactly. When you start to trust theory over reality I'm sure you've taken a bad turn.

[batiudrami]

Anecdotal evidence is not evidence! Especially anecdotal data reported by the subject. All you are showing is a fundemental misunderstanding of scientific process.

[mcbits]

Anecdotal evidence is evidence (hence the name). You just can't apply the usual statistical methods that assume the evidence was sampled perfectly randomly from an effectively infinite population. Empirical evidence rarely lives up to the theoretical requirements, either, but that doesn't stop science from progressing.

[emodendroket]

Would you also say you're exceptionally modest?

[lightbyte]

You personally might not be able to, but there is a lot of research that shows children can't always understand that they are watching an advertisement, and what that entails. That's why the US has lots of regulations regarding advertising to children.

[67726e]

> That's why the US has lots of regulations regarding advertising to children.

We have regulation on advertisements to children? That's a little surprising.

[icebraining]

https://www.ftc.gov/sites/default/files/documents/public_sta...

[lightbyte]

This one is more on the data collection side of advertising, but I'd say it's still relevant: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children%27s_Online_Privacy_Pr...

[wolco]

I remember at that age understanding that ads are not truthful at a deep level and filtering them. I find it's much harder for me now. Everything seems like an ad now a days and I may not believe the message but having the money to pay for so many ads on expensive platforms gives me a different message. If a company can afford a superbowl ad it gives me the impression the product has resources behind it and I can assign a level of trust.

Kids are better at filtering in some ways.

[emodendroket]

You're talking about the demographic who believes in Santa Claus, right?

[sqeaky]

In a Country that largely believes virgin birth and one very specific zombie.

One crazy belief is not sign of universal insanity. Perhaps though it is a sign of susceptibility, which is what we seem to be talking about.

[emodendroket]

I just knew some smartass was going to liken Santa Claus to God.

[ruleabidinguser]

Im certain you just don't see the value in your new perception.

[Hermel]

Good ads work on an emotional level. They work regardless of whether you know you can't trust then.

[ruleabidinguser]

That sounds like nonsense.

[emodendroket]

You will not find a single person in America who believes advertisements are a good neutral source of information, yet they still run them. They run them ever for products everyone has heard of and probably tried at some point. Why do you suppose that might be?

[ruleabidinguser]

I'm not saying ads are worthless, I'm saying they don't have control over you.

[InitialLastName]

It's all about name recognition. Ads work because they stick the advertiser's brand in your brain, along with some warm and fuzzy feelings. The next time you're hungry on the road, and there's a McDonald's across the street from a Burger King, whoever has your warmer and fuzzier feelings will win.

[Broken_Hippo]

Sure, in some ways, we all did - though I think most of us just got disappointed in a product or two or finally realized the ads weren't realistic.

This wasn't the case with other things, though. I remember really liking Care Bears back in the 80's. My father was appalled when he took me to a movie - he said it was basically an add to get kids to buy the new line of toys. My brother, 11 years younger than I, had the same sort of thing with Power Rangers and then Pokemon. I don't have children and am not quite sure what the current modern version of this is, but I'm sure it is there. Adult versions abound. These aren't the things we can spot so easily, especially as children with little world experience.

[mpeg]

Do you interact with any kids lately? They're all absolutely obsessed with the latest thing that is being pushed on them.

Minecraft, Pokemon Go, Star Wars...

[emodendroket]

To be fair you're describing a significant portion of the user base here as well.

[wslh]

> the parents can always say no or the kids can learn quickly...

The parents need to spend a lot of time to counteract those evil forces and you cannot teach a kid to not like the amazing toy he/she is watching on TV. You can teach them that they can receive presents on specific date though.

[infinite8s]

You can also get rid of your TV and not expose them to ads at all.

[wslh]

TV is only one source of ads, YouTube, games, and other web/mobile resources are full of ads. I cannot get rid of all of them without creating creatures from another planet.

[emodendroket]

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/118/6/2563

> Research has shown that young children—younger than 8 years—are cognitively and psychologically defenseless against advertising. They do not understand the notion of intent to sell and frequently accept advertising claims at face value. In fact, in the late 1970s, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) held hearings, reviewed the existing research, and came to the conclusion that it was unfair and deceptive to advertise to children younger than 6 years. What kept the FTC from banning such ads was that it was thought to be impractical to implement such a ban.

[analog31]

In my view, conducting a psychological campaign at an intensity that is known to be far beyond the ability of many people to withstand, is unethical.

On the other hand, I do teach my kids about advertising. They are quite skeptical about it.

[dvtv75]

As a friend of mine explained (his Master's Thesis used this topic), the idea that the marketer is trying to get them to spend money on something is simplistic and misguided. What's actually happening is they're trying to create a brand awareness, and a (subconscious) positive association, so that the child will grow up to feel positively toward the business or product.

About 10 or 15 years ago, there was a McDonalds ad that had parents dressing up. The kids exclaimed "The black suit! You know what that means!" "McDonalds for breakfast!" Cut to the kids smiling and happy while eating at McDonalds.

Positive associations are simple to create, particularly in those unaware of what you are doing.

[rangibaby]

http://www.rotten.com/library/conspiracy/kid-marketing/

[winfred]

Haha, thanks buddy, I didn't know websites could trigger nostalgia. Brings back memories from twenty years ago, amazing it's still around with the exact same layout.

[rangibaby]

IKR? The Rotten Library is a great time capsule of the early 00s. Atlas Obscura has a similar style of writing but is a little but too "normal" for my taste :-)

[ianai]

It's not healthy food.