Master
Advertising is an important part of commercial activity and living in societies in which commercialism plays an all important role in shaping our lives it is right that children should experience it. For children to fully integrate and engage in society they need to be allowed to experience the forces that shape it, commercial activity through the form of advertisements is a part of this experience.
Advertisements are the means by which most television stations are funded. If advertising to children is banned and get their way, then broadcasters will stop showing children's programmes, or greatly reduce their quality and quantity, which is clearly not in the public interest.
Advertising has no magical power to create unnatural desires for material possessions. Children who nag are simply badly brought up. Poor parenting and undisciplined children cannot be solved by banning advertising, as children have many influences upon them which can stimulate their desires for toys, etc., particularly their friends. It is also untrue that children have no spending power of their own; many children under 12 receive pocket money and teenagers are often able to earn a little themselves. Learning to manage money is part of growing up, and advertisements help them to choose what they would like to save up for.
Banning advertisements is a severe restriction upon freedom of speech. Companies should be able to tell the public about any legal products, or innovation will be restricted and new companies will find it hard to market their products successfully in the face of established rivals. Children also have a human right to receive information from a wide range of sources and make up their own minds about it.
And of course, if advertising to children were banned, then governments would not be able to use this means of promoting healthy eating, road safety, hygiene, and other socially useful messages.
More and more issues with children are being blamed on external
Advertisements are the means by which most television stations are funded. If advertising to children is banned and get their way, then broadcasters will stop showing children's programmes, or greatly reduce their quality and quantity, which is clearly not in the public interest.
Advertising has no magical power to create unnatural desires for material possessions. Children who nag are simply badly brought up. Poor parenting and undisciplined children cannot be solved by banning advertising, as children have many influences upon them which can stimulate their desires for toys, etc., particularly their friends. It is also untrue that children have no spending power of their own; many children under 12 receive pocket money and teenagers are often able to earn a little themselves. Learning to manage money is part of growing up, and advertisements help them to choose what they would like to save up for.
Banning advertisements is a severe restriction upon freedom of speech. Companies should be able to tell the public about any legal products, or innovation will be restricted and new companies will find it hard to market their products successfully in the face of established rivals. Children also have a human right to receive information from a wide range of sources and make up their own minds about it.
And of course, if advertising to children were banned, then governments would not be able to use this means of promoting healthy eating, road safety, hygiene, and other socially useful messages.
More and more issues with children are being blamed on external