▶ Your Answer :
Various
opinions may exist over the argument that advertisement should not be allowed
to target young children. As far as I am concerned, I am in complete agreement
with the argument. The two ideas stated below can be valid evidence to support
my view.
To
start with, children are susceptible to get confused by negative effects of
advertisement. Today, many children are half-reluctantly exposed to information
overflow. Tons of television shows, commercials, or covert marketing knowingly
or unknowingly influence the formation of their identity. If children of a
young age cannot distinguish the actual intention of the information, the
consequence of experiencing the information is, almost always, regretful
because not every business is ethical. For example, computer games are a very successful
business, but their advertisement often impact children’s behavior, and
increase the case of violence on the playground. Another example is companies
like McDonald’s that sell fast food to children. According to the Canadian
Pediatric Society, more than a quarter of the children living in North America
are now obese, a rate that tripled between 2006 and 2016. Therefore, some
business can destroy out health by inducing us to buy their products, with only
one goal in mind, which is to increase their profit. Thus, the advertisement
targeting children is very harmful to young age.
On
top of that, advertisement can make children’s viewpoint so narrow since
advertisements highlight their benefit whereas hide their weak point. While
watching advertisements, children are immersed by tons of information and
knowledge about this world. The problem that comes with this is that most of
information and knowledge is conveyed with the producer’s viewpoint and
children can easily become shortsighted if they do not have chances to verify
the information. In many cases, lack of experience or stereotype of children is
a serious problem that hinders development of their viewpoint. Therefore, in
order to gain well-balanced views and become more cultured, children are
encouraged to think and act by themselves and have as much experience as
possible. According to a research conducted by a renowned child psychologist
named John Weber from Pittsburgh University indicates that children who think
many times while reading books or playing with parents and friends attain goal
of achieving good grade in school in a much more effectual way whereas having
the same accomplishments is somewhat difficult for people who watch TV
commercial and just accept information. Likewise, his research proves that my
argument is convincing.
To
sum up, I believe my explanations above sufficiently prove the disadvantages of
advertisement for children. Obviously, the significance of commercial’s
negative effects for children and the possibility of children’s narrow
viewpoint cannot be overemphasized enough.
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