Advertising 30

School, family and church all have an effect on teenagers, but nothing will ever measure up to the effect that advertising has on our nation's youth.   The advertisements
target our youth by way of radio, television and newspaper. Advertisers use special tactics to persuade youth to buy their products.  
With the ever growing world of mass media becoming more accessible to children, we must realize the effect advertising has on the youth of today.   Multiple television sets are commonplace in today's homes.   "Today, at least one television set is in 98.2% of American households." (Television Bureau of Advertising, 2001)   Television viewing is no longer a family activity.   "Fifty-six percent of thirteen to seventeen year olds have a television set in their bedrooms." (Gentile & Walsh, 2002)   Advertising reaches more and more people every year.
Children spend more time watching television than any other activity except sleeping.   "By age 18, the average American teenager will have spent more time watching television-25, 000 hours-than learning in the classroom." (American Academy of Pediatrics)   Children are also bombarded by ads every day through television, radio, and print. Advertisers now focus their ads more heavily towards children and teens than adults. Many ads that are "adult" ads are now appealing to younger people by having young attractive people in the advertisements.  
Television is the fastest growing market with advertising. It has grown so quickly because the message can appeal to the eye, the ear, and the mind. Television ads are quick, persuasive, and enticing. The advertising and marketing budgets aimed at children approached $12 billion dollars. "Four hours of television programming contain about 100 ads." (Minneapolis Star Tribune, 1999) The cost of owning a television has dropped, therefore making ads reach more people than ever before.
Radio advertising has always profited well in the United States for many reasons. Radio is very cheap... [continues]

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