User:Elvisq00/sandbox

TV advertisements to children
Many advertisements involve children around the same age as the target audience. The latest technology; from laptops, cellphones, to toys are being advertised by companies trying to sell their product. Children, they’re not as skeptical; especially children under ten years old. They see their peers just laughing it up, crazy about a toy, and they want it. Most scholars and experts agree that children should not be targeted in ads and that there should be stricter rules around it. However,adults make the purchasing decisions, while children don't have enough life experience to know they are being manipulated. Companies will still use ads to target children because they are worth billions in sales.

The effect is seen on adults, but mainly on young children. According to a study from the UK, it states that celebrities who endorse specific foods in TV commercials are a powerful influence on children, and that effect may extend beyond the advertisement itself. That study contained 181 children, and was concluded that kids ate more potato chips after seeing ads featuring a popular UK sports figure than kids who only watched commercials for toys and nuts. Jason C. G. Halford from University of Liverpool stated "Obviously when they saw Gary Lineker in the advertisement, they ate a lot more crisps... but what was surprising was when we showed him presenting his show we found that it had the same effect as the advertisement." Many researches indicate that kids are more likely to pick foods sponsored by celebrities, even when it's just fruit. A study in 2012, found that kids who were offered both cookies and apples were more likely to choose the apple, if it had an Elmo sticker on it. Researchers say that this phenomenon is worrisome, since most foods advertised on TV are unhealthy, and could affect a child's health and weight long-term.

Effects of advertising to children
One cause for concern for children is deceptive phone applications directed at them by appearing to be free, but have hidden fees within the app. In these instances, the initial download of the game application has no cost. However, when children are playing the game, there will be fees to gain other features or different levels. Since the child would want to continue playing the game, they'll purchase it using their parent's credit card. Kids who may be too naive or not well-versed in how things are marketed can end up racking up quite large charges on their parents’ phone bill without them knowing until months down the road.

Suggett, Paul. “How Advertisers Target Children to Increase Sales.” The Balance Careers, The Balance Careers, 17 Jan. 2020, www.thebalancecareers.com/top-ways-brands-advertise-to-children-4154877.

Pinto, Renita Tisha. “Celebrity Endorsement: Impact of Celebrity Endorsement on Kids.” Indiatimes.com, India Times, 25 Mar. 2013, www.indiatimes.com/health/healthyliving/celebrity-endorsement-impact-of-celebrity-endorsement-on-kids-239970.html.

Gilmore, Laurentz Michelle. “The Ethics Behind Advertising To Children.” The Odyssey Online, The Odyssey Online, 17 Oct. 2019, www.theodysseyonline.com/advertising-to-children.