The Influence Of Social Media On America's Youth

For years, advertisers have targeted America’s youth, taking advantage of popular culture such as TV, media, videogames, and music videos, along with their psychology and instincts. They have amassed effective strategies to influence teens and children alike, resulting in them buying their products. However these millions of ads are taking their toll on our children’s health, behavior and much more. Advertising will only increase, already children see 40,000 television commercials a year. For Unless the population is educated on advertising, the problem will only increase. One of the most widespread ways advertisers target youth is through social media, such as apps, games, videos, music, streaming websites and downloadable content. They even have created advergames video games that advertise a brand-name product by featuring it as part of the game. An example of this is a fourth grader from Davis, California, who spends an hour a day on the Webkinz website, charmed by their plush animals (she owns 18). The site rewards her with currency whenever she clicks to see an ad. What more effective way to advertise than to reward kids for watching your ads. Advertisers also take advantage of social media by recruiting teens (usually) to advertise their
Companies have and are taking advantage of social media to recruit people to endorse their products. They have strategies that are effective. Taking advantage of insecurities, tracking data, celebrity endorsements the whole lot of it. The repercussions of their actions are already being felt with ⅓ kids eating fast food every day and this generation’s lower life expectancy. One person alone can not change the world, so spread this information to others, whether it be word of mouth, call, text or post so that the masses may be aware of the advertisers who target our youth. For once we fully understand the issue, we can then take steps to fix