Introduction
Specific groups such as listeners, readers, and viewers form a large part of consumers and are referred to as the audience. In order to improve the volume of sales, business organizations are usually obliged to launch marketing campaigns for their products. The campaigns are known as advertisements. Hence, consumers can be manipulated, persuaded, and encouraged to develop loyalty towards certain products.
This form of marketing tool can also be employed in promoting social and political agenda. However, advertisements constantly bombard the targeted audience and are often out of control according to Gary Ruskin. The author also notes that coercive advertising is common since the audiences are compelled to change their buying behavior. The act of advertising is widespread even in undeserving locations like elementary schools.
Negative effects of advertising
A number of advertising gigs have angered several people. Some do not adhere to the moral standards of society. However, Adam Thierer notes that advertising can be beneficial to both an organization and the targeted audience. The author notes that advertising assists consumers to save money because they obtain adequate product knowledge and eventually settle on the best and most affordable item according to personal tastes and preferences.
This line of argument may be partially true. For instance, close to 10 billion US dollars is spent by Samsung annually on advertising. In addition, we may agree that media houses that advertise products also benefit hugely from such services. Consumers are equally in a better position to understand the products quite well before making their final choices.
Nonetheless, the latter assertion cannot be substantiated bearing in mind that some companies may go to the extent of providing false product information with the aim of persuading consumers to make purchases. Misleading advertisements are common in the market today.
The main purpose of any piece of advertisement is to paint the brightest image of a product. While the advertised product may not meet the purported standards, advertising makes it appear perfect.
This can easily lead to a false representation of a product. Several companies have found themselves in this fix (such as the case of Red Bull). When a case is filed by a consumer in a court of law for false or misleading advertisement, it can attract hefty fines on the part of the manufacturer. This explains why advertising is generally undesirable to society.
Perhaps, it might be crucial to consider one of the worst impacts of advertising in society when it comes to ‘direct-to-consumer’ advertisements on sensitive products such as drugs. Some drug manufacturers portray their medical products as extremely effective in curing certain illnesses.
Consequently, users of such drugs obtain unrealistic expectations on the functional nature of the advertised drugs and eventually end up being disappointed. In extreme cases, false advertisements might lead to casualties when patients take prescription drugs that are not effective as stated in the advertisements. Several deaths have been witnessed owing to the negative effects of prescribed drugs in advertisements.
Worse still, consumers may waste millions of dollars on products related to beauty and health. Several health and beauty products contain harmful components such as mercury. However, most consumers are usually oblivious of the underlying dangers in such products. As a matter of fact, disclaimers are hardly visible in products that contain harmful components. When consumers are not informed of the side effects of products, they tend to fully believe the advertising messages.
As already hinted out, advertisements are everywhere and non-discriminatory. In other words, even the most vulnerable audience (such as school-going children) are targeted through their programs. It can be considered to be morally wrong to persuade young minds (children) to go out of their way and like certain products. While children do not have the autonomy to purchase and a mature mindset to make decisions, advertisers will always target them.
Conclusion
In recap, advertising is not a healthy practice in society. Consumers should be left to make their independent choices after being provided with sufficient and authentic product details.