Consuming Kids: The Commercialization of Childhood

[drhu22]

I think this should be required viewing for all parents, and all children old enough to understand it (1hr doc).
http://www.filmsforaction.org/watch/...hildhood_2008/

(thats a really good free documentary site btw)

[vektor]

I've been saying this for years especially the immersive marketing and manipulation, thanks for the vid. I think the most important part is that kids are subjected to on average 3000 advertisements a day, producing consumers systematically. It's funny, when I was a kid if I threw a tantrum I'd get a swift smack in the kid and I always just stare at parents hoping they'll do it when their kids are spazzing out in the mall.

[PsYcNeT]

Originally Posted by vektor

I've been saying this for years especially the immersive marketing and manipulation, thanks for the vid. I think the most important part is that kids are subjected to on average 3000 advertisements a day, producing consumers systematically. It's funny, when I was a kid if I threw a tantrum I'd get a swift smack in the kid and I always just stare at parents hoping they'll do it when their kids are spazzing out in the mall.

Explains why you impotently rage and call people names like it's grade 6 in PMs.

[drhu22]

Its really pisses me off to think that corporations rights to profit trump the better interests of society as a whole. I really don't think people realize what they've been sold.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by vektor

I've been saying this for years especially the immersive marketing and manipulation, thanks for the vid. I think the most important part is that kids are subjected to on average 3000 advertisements a day, producing consumers systematically. It's funny, when I was a kid if I threw a tantrum I'd get a swift smack in the kid and I always just stare at parents hoping they'll do it when their kids are spazzing out in the mall.

3000 advertisements a day? Where did that number come from? Assuming the average kid is asleep eight hours a day, that's almost 200 ads an hour.

I don't think so. We're all advertised to all the time, but that just doesn't add up.

[drhu22]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

Explains why you impotently rage and call people names like it's grade 6 in PMs.

Lets keep this intelligent.

[vektor]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

Explains why you impotently rage and call people names like it's grade 6 in PMs.

no that was sleep deprivation, antibiotics,a month long sinus infection, a job and University midterms. Too bad you are keeping a grudge about it though, I've moved on (and already apologized)

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

3000 advertisements a day? Where did that number come from? Assuming the average kid is asleep eight hours a day, that's almost 200 ads an hour.

I don't think so. We're all advertised to all the time, but that just doesn't add up.

a logical response. They talk about how it's possible, kids often watch tv while surfing the internet. I don't know if it's true, just what the video said.

[To Be Quite Honest]

Originally Posted by drhu22

Its really pisses me off to think that corporations rights to profit trump the better interests of society as a whole. I really don't think people realize what they've been sold.

First one must understand what is most important in this society. Is this economy, or are you as a single entity more important. IMO if you really mattered to society, we would be treating each other differently, but, instead, we value things over life...

Spending is what keeps this ridiculous ludicrous economy spinning. Spending in any way currency can be spent from material stores, grocery stores, housing, utilities, court systems... All at your expense. A waste society that includes you and your children.

[drhu22]

Grade 8 internet surfer girl with new iphone, ill bet can go through a lot of ads in 1 hour.

[To Be Quite Honest]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

3000 advertisements a day? Where did that number come from? Assuming the average kid is asleep eight hours a day, that's almost 200 ads an hour.

I don't think so. We're all advertised to all the time, but that just doesn't add up.

Advertisements are everywhere. It wouldn't be hard to rack that up. Bus ads, billboards, commercials, product placement, internet ads, labels on everything.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by To Be Quite Honest

Advertisements are everywhere. It wouldn't be hard to rack that up. Bus ads, billboards, commercials, product placement, internet ads, labels on everything.

First of all, the parents should be shot for putting all those tattoos on their child. That's child abuse!

Anyway, do we consider a label an "advertisement"? I have a computer on my lap right now. It has a label on it. Is that an ad?

I don't want to bog this thread down discussing how many ads we all see every day, but 3,000 just seems over the top. I suppose if the number is actually 300, or 1,000 or whatever, that would be considered too much to some people, but the point is, umm, well, I don't know what the point is. What am I talking about?

Oh yeah -- 200 ads an hour/three a minute sounds like something out of Minority Report or something. If I had any gumption, I'd count for the next hour, but I need to buy a hamburger.

[photon]

Originally Posted by drhu22

Its really pisses me off to think that corporations rights to profit trump the better interests of society as a whole. I really don't think people realize what they've been sold.

I think this statement is borderline poisoning the well.

Is it corporations' right to profit? Or is it just basic capitalism, freedom to operate their business?

I don't disagree with the overall point of too much advertising, but it's not like a bunch of lawmakers got together and said "You know what, the profits of corporations are more important than (insert whatever here)".

I mean people are free not support companies that advertise to kids.

What do you suggest as a solution?

[drhu22]

Is it corporations' right to profit? Or is it just basic capitalism, freedom to operate their business?

Look closely...semantics.

[vektor]

Originally Posted by photon

I think this statement is borderline poisoning the well.

Is it corporations' right to profit? Or is it just basic capitalism, freedom to operate their business?

I don't disagree with the overall point of too much advertising, but it's not like a bunch of lawmakers got together and said "You know what, the profits of corporations are more important than (insert whatever here)".

I mean people are free not support companies that advertise to kids.

What do you suggest as a solution?

This is missing the point of the entire documentary. The point is that the companies attempt to subvert the parents ability to censor their kids exposure by literally going around the parents. There was a part in it showing how schools accept money in exchange for advertising opportunities.

[drhu22]

Who watched the movie there will be a quiz.

[drhu22]

Originally Posted by photon

I think this statement is borderline poisoning the well.

Is it corporations' right to profit? Or is it just basic capitalism, freedom to operate their business?

I don't disagree with the overall point of too much advertising, but it's not like a bunch of lawmakers got together and said "You know what, the profits of corporations are more important than (insert whatever here)".

I mean people are free not support companies that advertise to kids.

What do you suggest as a solution?

I suggest that government has safeguards built in to prevent corporate influence from preceding the rights of the general populace. Ie: profit over the health of the consumer mental or physical

[JohnnyB]

Spoiler for size.

Spoiler!

This is a picture I took just after reading this thread on my way home from work taking the subway here in Shanghai. This is a tunnel I often walk through that is literally an immersive advertising experience. The entire length of the walls on each side is a massive screen and there are speakers playing the advertising music etc to go with the visual ads. There is one more big screen at the end of the hall.

Anyways, after reading this thread I decided to count the advertisements I saw on my way home. I was over 50 in less than two minutes and counted over 200 in about 8 minutes. When I really thought about my trip home I would guess I was exposed to over a thousand in about 35 minutes, and that's not even counting the obvious branding on people's shoes, phones, bags etc. Nor did I visit any shops on the way home or go through any shopping centres. So, I would think in this city at least seeing 3000 ads in a day is easily done. If I had some errands to run or reasons to go out around the city more I'm fairly confident I would get home having been exposed to at least 7 or 8 thousand, and if obvious branding was factored in that would go up over 10 thousand in a day pretty easily.

Kind of shocking, but 3000 ads in a day seems utterly believable for kids in this city and is probably an underestimate.

[drhu22]

Originally Posted by JohnnyB

Spoiler for size.

Spoiler!

This is a picture I took just after reading this thread on my way home from work taking the subway here in Shanghai. This is a tunnel I often walk through that is literally an immersive advertising experience. The entire length of the walls on each side is a massive screen and there are speakers playing the advertising music etc to go with the visual ads. There is one more big screen at the end of the hall.

Anyways, after reading this thread I decided to count the advertisements I saw on my way home. I was over 50 in less than two minutes and counted over 200 in about 8 minutes. When I really thought about my trip home I would guess I was exposed to over a thousand in about 35 minutes, and that's not even counting the obvious branding on people's shoes, phones, bags etc. Nor did I visit any shops on the way home or go through any shopping centres. So, I would think in this city at least seeing 3000 ads in a day is easily done. If I had some errands to run or reasons to go out around the city more I'm fairly confident I would get home having been exposed to at least 7 or 8 thousand, and if obvious branding was factored in that would go up over 10 thousand in a day pretty easily.

Kind of shocking, but 3000 ads in a day seems utterly believable for kids in this city and is probably an underestimate.

Its hard to believe that we see that much advertising every day.
Mongolia is starting to look very good!

[JohnnyB]

Originally Posted by drhu22

Its hard to believe.

Yeah. I'm quite conscious of the omnipresent advertising in Shanghai, but it really surprised me how quickly they started adding up when I started counting.

[CaptainCrunch]

Came into this thread looking for recipes

Left disappointed.