The average American youth spends 1,500 hours watching television and in those 1,500 hours they will view an average of 20,000 thirty-second commercial advertisements. Norman Herr, Ph. D. , Television Statistics (2007), http://www. csun. edu/science/health/docs/tv&health. html. Many of those advertisements include an array of alcoholic beverages, scantily dressed actors or actresses promoting sought-after clothing brands, and popular children stars or cartoon characters promoting fast food chains.
There's a specialist from your university waiting to help you with that essay.
Tell us what you need to have done now!
order now
Along with the fore-mentioned products there are commercial advertisements promoting violence and unsafe acts. The latest trends in advertisements have led to lower morals, a higher obesity rate, an attitude of materialism, and alcohol consumption amongst America’s youth. There is currently a very toxic relationship between television advertising and American youth. “Youth exposure to alcohol advertising on U. S. television increased seventy-one percent between 2001 and 2009 … according to an analysis from the Center on Alcohol marketing and youth (CAMY) at the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Another negative effect of sex appeal in television advertisements is that youth become materialistic, believing that in order to be happy, beautiful, and accepted they need the products from the commercials. “A National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey released in October 1995 found 4. 7 million children between the ages of 6-17 to be severely overweight, more than twice the rate during the 1960s. ” Norman Herr, Ph. D. , Television Statistics (2007), http://www. csun. edu/science/health/docs/tv&health. html. The two major contributors of this problem are inactivity and a diet lacking proper nutritious value.
With the many television programs designed to entertain youth they lose out on the physical activity they need and deserve. Of the 20,000 commercials American youth see ninety-five percent of them are for food consisting of candy, snacks, cereal, beverages, and fast food. All of these items are high in calories, fats, salts and sugars leading to childhood or adolescent diabetes and obesity. These commercials entice young American’s by offering popular character themed toys or prizes. They also display large quantities of food that are far beyond the serving size a child needs.
Instead of promoting a healthy diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, and healthy proteins television advertising encourages Americans to consume an unhealthy diet of fatty, nutrient dense foods. There are other television advertisements that promote movies, musicians, and entertainment programming that are violent or inappropriate for younger viewers and listeners. Along with these advertisements, there are also advertisements for books, toys, and games that lack any educational or intellectual value. Name brands and celebrities featured in commercials also contribute to American youth becoming materialistic.
Individuals want products for their materialistic appeal instead of their effectiveness, intended value or purpose. Overall, the majority of television advertisements lack educational, nutritional, and moral value. Advertisers need to be reminded that we are to “do all things to glorify God. ” 1 Corinthians 10:31, NIV. There is potential for television advertising to be a positive influence on American youth by promoting healthy and moral lifestyles. However, American youth are currently engaged in a very toxic relationship with television advertisements that is leading to the demise of society.
