Issues in Advertising

     Over the years, advertising has been hit with many forms of opposition. Some opposition as come from concerned citizens. Other opposition has come the government itself. When the government was involved, specific laws were put into place to restrict advertisements. Even though ads have restrictions, they are still making a lasting impact on those that watch them. Many people are concerned that the lasting impacts are more negative than positive.

One of the most disastrous ad campaigns
ever featured the Oldsmobile in 1989. The company
alienated their loyal older customers
while failing to attract the younger generation. 

From: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia
/commons/0/02/Oldsmobile_eighty-eight_1958.jpg

 Many issues have been over what was being advertised. These issues stemmed from advertisements for beauty products, tobacco, and alcohol. These many issues have caused problems for advertising agencies. But even though some ads are faced with opposition from the public, people continue to watch the ads and continue to be influenced by what they are watching. 

     One major issue that has recently been brought up in advertising has been eating disorders. Many say that the models that advertise popular beauty products, such as shampoo, makeup, etc., have given girls and women an unrealistic standard of beauty. The models in these advertisements are much thinner than the average woman.

Ads such as the one shown above emulate how
a woman should look. These models are "perfect",
but can women truly reach the "perfection" in these
ads?

From: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons
/6/61/DouglasFerguson_RichardAvedon_Revlon,1985.jpg

They emulate perfection in everything that they do. Their hair is perfect. Their makeup is perfect. Their bodies are perfect. Girls and women that watch and see these advertisements tend to have low self-esteem and insecurities. They will do anything, even something harmful, to obtain the beauty pictured in ads. This may lead to eating disorders such as bulimia or anorexia. Nowadays, some ads feature women that are normal, everyday women. They aren't perfect. The standard of beauty according to advertisements is changing. But, there are still some beauty ads that tell women the only way to be beautiful is by buying their product and looking like their stick-thin models. 

     Another huge criticism of advertisements has been its promotion of tobacco. Tobacco companies have done a great job of targeting certain consumers. For example, the Joe Camel cartoon character was updated to attract a younger crowd. Joe Camel had sunglasses and hip clothing, emulating the cool, hip person you could be when smoking his brand of cigarette.

Joe Camel turned into a super cool character.
His new look attracted many from the younger
generation.

From: https://c2.staticflickr.com
/4/3843/14816055091_c809b21bf2_b.jpg

 Tobacco companies have tried to target other groups as well, but have failed in the process. In the mid-1990s, the government became involved with tobacco advertising. New reports showed that tobacco companies had known that nicotine was addictive in the early 1950s and never told the public. Agreements were made between the tobacco companies and the government. One of the provisions of the agreement banned the use of cartoon characters in advertising. It also prohibited sponsorship of many events by the companies and banned the companies from giving away tobacco merchandise. These provisions crippled the tobacco companies only a little. People were still aware of the different brands of tobacco and still bought their favorite brands.

     Tobacco was not the only product that was and still is under scrutiny by the public. Alcohol was and is to this day under scrutiny. Just like tobacco ads, alcohol ads have been restricted. They no longer use cartoon characters to attract a younger crowd.

Alcohol advertisements have been under scrutiny for
heavily targeting college students. 

From: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia
/commons/7/7a/Alcoholic_beverages.jpg

 Instead, beer companies have found a clever way to advertise their brands. Coors and Miller employ student representatives to get their brands out there or as they call it "brand awareness". These students tell the beer companies when their college or university is holding a special event that might be linked to a beer label. Alcohol companies have found creative ways to reach their target audiences. Even though restrictions have been placed, alcohol advertisements are still an issue with many. 

   It is easy to blame advertisements for the problems in the world. Some can say alcoholism is rampant because of the many different alcohol commercials. Others can say tobacco ads are causing lung cancer and eventually death. Advertisements do influence us. We see an ad and are instantly affected by it. Beauty products, tobacco, and alcohol ads are major issues in advertising. Until we, the consumers, realize that advertisements do not have to control our lives, the ads will have an ever-lasting effect on all of us.

What is the significance of third and fourth screens in relation to television?

The color TV was a major milestone in television history. 
From: https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4085/5170714201_c337636c0e_b.jpg

     Television is ever changing. Just like every other kind of technology, television is always evolving and improving. In the beginning, television was simply a dream. How could we transmit images from place and send it to another? Was it even possible because television images could not physically float through the air? Eventually, the first television picture was transmitted electronically in 1927. From there, television really took off. Different television stations were introduced to the public. People could buy television sets for their home use. Color television was invented, which changed television forever. Cable services were introduced to the home, which allowed people to get more channels for a certain price each month. Finally, third and fourth screens became popular. Television continues to be one of the main forms of entertainment in America today. But, as time goes on third and fourth screens may take over television. 


   

Smart phones are fourth screen technologies that
are making a huge impact in the television industry.

From: https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/
8320/8032182566_788694e8da_b.jpg

 Third and fourth screens are important to television history, but what are third and fourth screens? Third screens are computer screens. Fourth screens are technologies like iPhones, iPads, other smartphones, and mobile devices. With the rise of new technology, people are able to watch movies and television shows in more places than just their homes and movie theaters. Computer screens and smart devices are called third and fourth screens because movies screens are the first screens. Television sets in the home are the second screens. This order of "screens" is based on how we view content. Third and fourth screens are important because they interfere with television viewership and cable consuming. More and more people are watching movies and television shows on third and fourth screen technologies. The first and second screens are still the most popular, but television may see a change in the near future as technology continues to improve with third and fourth screens. 

Hulu started Hulu Plus, a service that streams
hundreds of movies and television shows for $8 a month.
From: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/
commons/thumb/7/76/Hulu_logo.svg/1280px-Hulu_logo.svg.png

     Third and fourth screen technologies have created new online experiences ans services. These services such as Netflix and Hulu Plus have put a dent in television. These services provide their customers with a vast collection of movies and programs (original and television) for a small price each month. These third screen services have become wildly popular recently. People can watch Netflix, Hulu Plus, and similar services on their computers, smartphones, and other smart devices anytime they want. The convenience of these services attracts many people. They can pay a small price each month for popular television shows and movies on their phones, tablets, and even their televisions without having to be tied down to one network provider. Many people have gotten rid of their television provider (Comcast, Direct TV, AT & T) in exchange for a paid subscription service. People can watch entire seasons of television shows in one sitting with these services. 


   

Direct TV is a network provider that still reigns over
third screen sites. 

From: https://upload.wikimedia.org/
wikipedia/commons/a/a9/The_DirecTV_logo.png

 The problem with these services is that they do not provide customers with many popular television shows and movies. Netflix gets rid of many movies and television shows after a certain amount of time, even the most popular movies and shows. Sometimes on Hulu Plus, customers cannot watch certain episodes of television shows without providing account information from their network provider. It is these few drawbacks that causes these sites to be called "catch-up services". "Catch-up services" are services that people use to catch up on missed episodes of their favorite television shows or movies they may have missed. As of late, people have not replaced regular cable TV for these services. But if these services begin to provide the most popular shows and movies, television and movie theaters will have major competition. 

     Third and fourth screen technologies have changed the television industry forever. They have changed where you can watch show and movies and how you watch them. No longer do people have to watch movies in movie theaters or TV shows on their television sets at home. Today, people can watch their favorite TV show wherever: on a bus, in a restaurant, and even in the bathroom. Television sets may be a thing of the past just like landline phones. If we can watch our favorite TV show anywhere with our third and fourth screen devices, why do we need to watch TV programming on a stationary television set?