Many young adults are exposed to a huge amount of advertising, both online and in their daily lives. Some of these advertisements are positive and helpful, whilst others are deceptive.
During one study, young adults were asked to view movie segments interspersed with advertising. They were given a snack break and then a questionnaire to fill in after the viewing session.
Advertising for Alcohol and Smoking
Advertising for alcohol and smoking has been a central part of American culture. These products have contributed to hundreds of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in profits. They have also caused an untold number of cases of illness and harm.
Many studies have found that exposure to alcohol advertising increases the likelihood of youth drinking. Similarly, tobacco advertising has been shown to increase the likelihood of smoking.
The underlying mechanism is unknown, but it may involve receptivity. Receptivity is the development of a positive affect toward an object or event.
Using data from the National Center for Health Statistics, we investigated the effect of outdoor alcohol and tobacco advertising on young people in 24 media markets across the United States. We evaluated the relationship between self-reported advertising exposure to TV, radio, billboards and magazines and the prevalence of alcohol use by adolescents.
Advertising for Fast Food
Fast food restaurants are a huge business in the United States, and they have their own marketing strategies. These advertising campaigns are designed to attract new customers and keep loyal ones coming back.
One of the most common forms of advertising is television commercials. These ads usually contain a company’s jingle or familiar slogan and can help to develop product familiarity with viewers.
Another form of advertising is direct mail. These mailings are often sent out to people’s homes, and they can contain coupons for special menu items or promotions.
Research has shown that fast food advertising is linked to unhealthy snack choices among adults. The study found that when participants were exposed to food advertising, they were more likely to choose snacks that were high in fat and salt. They also ate more soda and chips than those who did not see food ads. These results support previous studies that link advertising to unhealthy food choices.
Advertising for Cosmetics
Advertising for cosmetics has become increasingly important in American culture. The industry is a billion-dollar sector, and it’s estimated that global spending on cosmetics will grow by 10% in 2021.
Cosmetic advertisements often promote unrealistic beauty standards that women may not be able to achieve, making them feel insecure about their appearances and causing them to buy more cosmetic products. According to sociologist Jean Kilbourne, this is one of the most significant factors influencing women’s attitudes toward cosmetics.
As women develop increasingly skewed beauty standards, it’s important for marketers to understand how to market their cosmetics products in ways that are authentic to their audiences. This means highlighting the qualities of your product instead of focusing on features such as the brand name or price tag.
Advertising for Drugs
Advertising for drugs is a controversial practice in the United States. Drug companies advertise their products directly to consumers, through television, radio, and online ads.
While drug advertisements may be helpful to people with a medical condition and provide information about treatment options, they do not replace medical advice or prescriptions from a doctor. Moreover, the branded drugs that are advertised may not be appropriate for certain individuals or have cheaper alternatives available.
The American Medical Association has called for a ban on direct-to-consumer drug advertising (DTCA). While this practice is legal in the U.S., it is controversial and carries many ethical and regulatory concerns.
