Controversial Television Advertising
...has been hundreds upon hundreds of arguments about television advertising. These controversial subjects include areas such as: child obesity, drugs, violence, and sexual explicit content. All of these are issues in America because children are affected by each subject. Would anyone want their child to see a commercial about condoms or marijuana? What about losing interest in physical activities or being mean to others? No one wants a child to grow up in a society full of hate and an appetite of fast food. Throughout this reading will be facts and effects that child obesity, drugs, violence, and sexual content have on children.
Child obesity is one of the biggest controversial issues in America because there are tons of fast food restaurants around every corner. "One-fourth of children in America spend four or more hours watching television daily and only 27% of students in grades 9 through 12 engage in moderate physical activity at least 30 minutes a day on five or more days of the week," stated the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Lifestyle behaviors are one major factor leading to obesity in children and adults, according to the CDC. Inside a bedroom of the 21st century child is a range of multimedia objects. More than half (57%) of children 9-13 years old, have a TV, video game equipment, a VCR, or a computer in their rooms (Kaufman. 2003). Stating, 26% of U.S. children watch four or more hours of television per day and 67% of U.S. children watch two or more hours of television per day. In other words, a child spends at least 2,000 minutes watching television and sees about 20,000 advertisements. 95% of advertisements seen are fast food, soft drinks, sugary cereals, and salty snacks.
Food and beverage companies use ads to entice children into eating massive amounts of unhealthy food which leads to an increase in childhood obesity,...
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