1) I’m sorry for my mistake. Indeed, I used bad wording when trying to describe my personal experience. I stand corrected and thanks for pointing it out. By no means I implied that what happens to me should be considered a “fact”. Thanks!

2)I haven’t said a word on my PERSONAL belief on what marketing should be/do to kids. You made me sound as if I didn’t care for kids and tried to make them into the perfect underage consumer, that’s not what I’ve implied or what I even believe. I do stand by my beliefs and social responsibility.

3) I don’t believe marketing uses kids (or anyone for that matter) as tools. Perhaps that is the most evil and cold way to describe marketing. Maybe I’m naive but I believe marketing is about a two-way relationship, trying to satisfy a need or desire one side has, by making a profit on the other side. (aka. business making)…

4)…if you do believe that marketing uses kids as tools to convince their parents, then how does it make that more un-ethical than convincing adults of buying things they don’t need either? -Actually, from my PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, I’ve seen that kids certain ages (when they become “marketing aware”) are more discriminating than adults, they understand what they want and what they don’t give a cent for; something that tends to get blurry in many adults when they’re exposed to repetitive marketing messages.

I will go into the ethical/un-ethical side of marketing to kids in a future post, I’ll let you know when it’s out. You might be surprised with what my position is.

Thanks for commenting & visiting,
Ron E.

If I understand correctly it is YOUR experience and opinion that kids WANT and DESERVE marketing attention. I am sorry to break the news to you but one’s experience or opinion doesn’t turn something into a fact or truth. Unfortunately:-)

Of course kids are more open to marketing attention then adults. To the kids it is a form of entertainment. They do not realize that they are used as a tool to convince their parents to buy stuff. So you are absolutely right that aiming marketing attention at kids is a controversial issue. How does it match with authentic, socially responsible behavior and brands?

Kids deserve marketing attention because they are such a profitable target, you say. So it is the companies that decide that kids deserve something? It seems a bit paternalistic to me. Especially since kids are too young to make these choices for themselves.

So I enjoy the dialogue because I totally do not agree with your statements. (If I completely took over your point of view no dialogue is needed.) Kids are not asking for marketing attention and there is a long kist of things they deserve. Marketing attention is not one of them.

Basically the way you address the issue still leads to controversy. I am curious to know your ideas on ethical and socially responsible kids marketing.

Let’s see. “…Kids WANT marketing attention…” & “…they DESERVE marketing attention…” are both personal experience comments that I have found. Kids are amazing marketing players, they have keen minds in spotting marketing messages and responding to them. As I said, they have big influence within their family as to what will be purchased or not (what mother wants a crying baby for 1 hr while she finishes grocery shopping? – If only by pressure, they DO decide what’s bought for them). By the simple fact they’re a profitable and juicy market for companies selling products for kids, they do deserve that marketing attention and exposure.

As well, I’ve found seen that Kids, unlike adults, are open to marketing messages and actually enjoy watching them. They’re just growing up and developing their mind capabilities and so each message gives them something new and interesting for them to put together into their “world image”.

Do you have any children of your own, or in the family? Take a close look at them while they’re watching TV, their attention span is usually concentrated in short spots of interesting and relevant data for them, sometimes turning away and getting distracted, but as soon as the ads come up they stare like a hawk. Try it, even if just once, you’ll see what I mean.

Thanks for dropping by. I enjoy your comments so much, they add so much to my blog and challenge my mind to the top.

Cheers,
Ron E.