Remember
as a kid when you were actually excited to wake up early on Saturday mornings
just to watch your favourite shows. To me it was a Saturday morning ritual along
with my brother to set up camp in front of the TV. With our blankets and action
figures in hands as mom cooked our breakfasts we would watch cartoons, and play
along with them. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Scooby-doo, Gargoyles, Teenage
Mutant Ninja Turtles, just to name a few were our favourites. Like most kids, we had various movies of the
shows, countless action figures, and clothing. Anytime something new came out
surrounding any of the shows I can remember us pestering our mom until she gave
in and bought us the toy but only on the condition of sharing it.
You
never realise how effective commercials geared towards kids are until you take
the time to look back to when you were a kid and how you would die if you did
not get it. Alternatively, if you happen to see young kids face light up when
they advertise a new toy it shows how effective the advertising is. They think
it is the coolest thing and all their other toys are essentially stupid and old.
This
raises the question is it ethical for major toy companies to advertise and
market towards kids. This will be the focus of my research paper should they be
allowed to market to kids (if so should there be restrictions on how), what are
the benefits of marketing towards kids, if not to kids how could they create a
new strategy to advertise to adults.
I think this is an important topic to discuss because to some parents
having their kids badger them constantly for that cool new toy is just not
fair. They may not be able to afford the toys for the kids; the kids
could cause public scenes making them look bad, and the toys phase out quickly
in today’s society. Parents could save a lot of money and annoyance from their
kids if companies marketed to them and not the kids. Leaving it to the parent’s
discretion of whether the toy is good for their kids and whether they should
have it.
