Has Media Advertising Gone Too Far?

 I saw a television ad today that really made me shake my head in pure disbelief. The phrase ‘sex sells’ is one that has been commonly shared amongst mainstream society for many years. Overtly sexual images surround us daily in magazines, billboards, television, and the internet. In recent years however, the attempts at selling a product has gotten worse. One 30-second commercial will feature a half naked woman licking a piece of ice and by the end, viewers find out that it was insurance commercial. I won’t get into the fact that this really degrades women (another post, another time), but I will ask the rhetorical question: What audience does the ad appeal to most?

I am intrigued by advertising. There are so many brilliant and entertaining commercials out there. However, I am not fond of certain methods that advertisers use to sell products. One of those being sex. There comes a moment when something is no longer viewed as being commercial, but instead exploitation. Also, children watch television and are easily influenced by the images and actions that they see portrayed on the screen.

The 21^st century has made society much more intent upon the visual, even if it is without substance. It seeks to lure us into thinking that we should aim to be the prettiest, strongest, smartest, and the wittiest of all. It can convince a boy that he is nothing without a basketball in his hand. It can influence a young girl to go to extreme lengths to have a model figure or a perfect face.

So, what is the solution? I can only imagine how advertising will evolve in the next couple of years. It is the responsibility of parents, teachers, and community leaders to educate children on the fundamentals of media. It’s important that our youth make sound decisions in their life and none should be based upon what they saw in an ad.

Share your thoughts on the matter.