The young child marvels at the way his elder brother dips an Oreo into a glass of milk. After an adorable struggle, the younger child happily eats his Oreo with milk. This commercial conveys the message that eating Oreos is a fun and harmless experience. Although most adults will know the risks of eating excessive amounts of Oreos, most young children will not see the risks. Young children are vulnerable to marketing campaigns because they often don’t know how to discern between good and bad. Should companies be allowed to expose children to advertisements that encourage consumption of unhealthy foods?

Some countries, such as Britain, have tackled the issue by enforcing more restrictions on television ads. As a response, food companies have launched online marketing campaigns that target children through social media and computer games. In order to attract children, major food companies have redesigned their websites to be more child-friendly. Much controversy has been aroused by the countless mini games that can be found on food company websites. For instance, one particular game involves collecting approximately 100 sweets without being caught by the angry parents in the game. Such a game could encourage young children to consume unhealthy food without the permission of their parents.

While it is not wrong for companies to promote their products, should they reduce the amount of advertisements aimed at children?

References:

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/jun/18/junk-food-children-marketing-who-tv

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/apr/29/junk-food-ad-ban-children