Advertising: A Hinderance

As a young child, I vividly remember being drawn in by the bright colours, exciting music and familiar cartoon characters shown on television advertisements.  Have you ever noticed that most of the T.V. ads aired during the day are geared towards children, and quite a bit of it revolves around junk food? I would beg my parents to buy these sugary cereals or happy meals for me because I assumed this was "normal" food.

 “You don’t understand!” I’d cry. “If I don't eat this, I'll never be cool!” 
Sound familiar?   

photo credit: http://yaquz001.blogspot.com/2010/03/pester-power.html

Everybody knows that obesity is a problem in America which is only getting worse, especially among children. It is also well-known that most children are visual learners. If they like the look of something, they tend to want it. In fact, according to a 2007 study conducted by Stanford University, by the age of 2, children have already formed opinions about specific brands, while by the age of 6, they are familiar with major brands’ logos, names and packaging.
 Advertisers know this, and there are many advertisements aimed at harnessing the susceptibility of children. Since children are so impressionable, it is the duty of the media and food companies to help discourage - or at least, to not promote - unhealthy foods and habits. Advertisements for junk food should not be allowed on television or through a medium that children can easily access.

One day, when you have kids of your own, won’t you try to protect them by monitoring what they eat and encouraging a healthy lifestyle? No matter how much you try, though, you won’t be able to monitor every area of their lives or what they do with their own money. If, while trying to watch Barney, they are bombarded with subliminal messages from “cool people” eating junk food, I wouldn’t blame them for wanting it and doing whatever it takes to get it. Don’t you remember pestering your parents for Lucky Charms at the grocery store? I don’t want my children to face the extra temptation and pressure before they are really able to understand the repercussions of their actions. 

photo credit: http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/advertisers-
accused-over-junkfood-culture/2006/07/26/1153816253315.html

When children are weakest to the effects of advertising, they should be protected from it. I understand that many Americans do not believe it’s the government’s place to intervene, but if it doesn’t, what will? Businesses will inevitably lose profit, but how can we put a price on our children’s health? The government can't monitor everything, just like we as future parents won't be able to monitor everything, but the government should ban junk food advertisements on kids’ channels on television.