Big Ideas on the Advertising Industry (Ch. 13)

1. Controversy
2. Controversy
3. And MORE Controversy

For the the chapter of Advertising, I wanted to focus on the issues pertaining to this industry. Since its beginning, advertising has had its down sides. In the late 1800s the advertising industry was truly out of control, filled with a lot of puffery, or exaggeration in advertising claims. Most of this came from patent drugs at the time that claimed to cure gout, tuberculosis, cancer, heart disease, and pretty much anything (but they didn't). Many of these drugs actually contained mostly alcohol and addictive drugs such a cocaine, which is illegal today, and morphine. In response to all of this craziness, a number of things happened. The Pure Food and Drug Act was passed in 1906; the Federal Trade Commission was established as an advertisement watchdog; The U.S Postal Service took the responsibility to overlook the ads sent out in the mail; The FDA oversaw as about food, drugs, cosmetics, and health products. However, wanting to strengthen their credibility, the Industry formed The American Association of Advertising Agencies, with the pledge made in 1924 to follow a published code of ethics in advertising, which is still in affect today.

Other concerns of the work of Advertisers is the amount, or lack, of truth put into ads, and the direction of certain ads to children and teens. The use of cartoon characters or young actors in commercials are obviously targeted toward young people, but unfortunately some of these tactics are used in Alcohol and cigarette ads.

In Conclusion, even though some of the strategies used by the Advertising Industry are questionable, I feel as though these professional are doing their jobs. There is no way of stopping them from getting people from buying their products because THAT IS THEIR BUSINESS. And besides lobbying against certain ads and strategies, I don't feel as though advertisers will ever stop trying to trick or manipulate people into buying their products. Sorry.