In his blog – https://blogs.ubc.ca/willdorr/2010/10/27/subliminal-marketing/ – Will raised up a really good question regarding ethics in marketing. Although the chapter on ethics is not covered in this course, it is often something we ponder about when we make a decision or when we see how something which may be morally grey can affect us like in the youtube link Will posted.
Taking a shot at answer this ethical question myself, my first respond will have to be that it is unethical to persuade a consumer to make his/her decision unconsciously because this provides a method for a company to eliminate the consumer’s process of finding information and comparing the best products which he/she would like to purchase. But on the other hand, we can also say that other means of advertising is also unethical because many company put out misleading information or promote many promises they or their product fail to keep. Having look at it this way, can we say that the use of subliminal advertising – if employed by all company in a market – be fair game to all involved? Or would this be unfair to all consumer as they would be all the products they take in unconsciously? I guess we will need more research to answer this question truthfully…