What is most interesting to me is the overabundance of advertisements that we're bombarded with on a daily basis and contemplating how effective they are. Considering the history behind advertising and all of the statistics I've come across in these chapters, it seems that they have served their purpose- to make people want, desire & need products. One of the most perplexing products that seems to have gotten a higher number of sales due to T.V. advertisement is prescription drugs. To me, it just seems wrong to have an advertisement influence someone to go on a certain medication, although I suppose it can be beneficial to their health. I wonder..... does it really take an advertisement for someone to finally get help in an arena as serious as mental health? If so, I think it's a bit concerning.
Another concerning topic is advertising to children. As they banned it in Europe, they should do so here as well, even just limiting it a bit more if not banning completely. In a way, advertising to children is manipulation for the reason that children don't have the funds to buy all of these exciting toys, so once again, it is actually directed to the adult consumer. At the same time, it is creating children to become consumers of mass production. It makes them want, and upsets them because they can't get what they want/see, and children are especially expectant of instant gratification.
As advertisements are created to make people want products, I think it's an entire new ballpark when they create image issues in people. Most advertisements have models selling products, giving off the idea that 'This is what You'll look like if you use our products,' which is false manipulation. It makes people that his or her skin is perfect due to this product, although it's not true- they most likely came to the photo shoot looking like that without ever using the product. People are paid to make a product look like it's worth purchasing and many people, myself included, fall for it and have a burning desire to buy buy buy. They have indeed succeeded.
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