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.