Advertising

  1. Companies Sponsoring Sports Events for Advertising Purposes

For:

  • Sports teams or players are given free equipment which they could not afford otherwise.

  • Players can focus on their sport instead of being distracted by financial worries.

  • Companies can link their name to successful players

  • People think positively of companies that donate products and equipment

  • Sports fans are more interested in the event than in the sponsors’ advertising messages

  • Sports sponsorship provides increased media exposure for a company and its brand

Against:

  • Some companies advertise products harmful to health

  • Tobacco companies, among others, should not be allowed to sponsor sports events

  • Companies can showcase their products

  • If the player is unsuccessful, it might affect product sales

  • The company’s reputation can be too tightly linked to a player’s reputation

  • A player who does drugs or misbehaves will have negative consequences for the company and vice versa.

  1. Companies Sponsoring Sports Events for Advertising Purposes

Problem —> Solution

  • Advertising food and drinks that have high levels of fat and sugar causes child obesity => Food advertisements should encourage children to eat only healthy foods

  • Little children pester their parents to buy the products advertised on TV and social media => Some countries have already banned advertising targeted at young children

  • Children are unable to differentiate between the actual TV programmes and commercials => It should be illegal to use children’s film heroes and favourite cartoon characters in advertisements

  • Children have not yet learnt that things cost money or that money needs to be earned => Instead of consumerism, advertising could promote creativity and values such as friendship and honesty

  • Advertising gives children the illusion that everyone has free access to all material things => Both schools and parents need to teach children critical thinking skills

  1. Advertising Fast Food

For

  • Freedom of choices is one the key principles of a democratic society

  • For many people, fast food is more affordable than health food

  • Without advertising, people would not be able to make informed choices

  • Nowadays, many fast food products have a “diet” version and a “classic” version

  • Effective advertising helps us understand the difference between fast food and junk food

Against

  • Studies have shown a clear link between the regular consumption of fast food and obesity

  • What people need is more information about how to eat a balanced and healthy diet

  • There is no need to advertise fast food because it is already everywhere, in school canteens, in supermarkets and in the high street

  • Fast food is unhealthy and advertising it is irresponsible

  • Advertising should encourage people to keep fit, not to ruin their health

  1. Advertising Encourages Spending

    Encourages unnecessary spending

    • Advertising is often for products and services that we do not really need

    • A lot of adverts create artificial wants

    • People often buy things only because of the image of power, success and glamour associated with them

    • Children are easily influenced by commercials and then pester their parents to buy certain products

    • The ultimate aim of advertising is to subtly persuade people to buy things

    Provides information on products

    • Adverts help people save money by informing them about real bargains

    • Catalogues and brochures enable people to compare products and services at leisure

    • If you do not have time to shop around, you can rely on advertising to learn about new products

    • Advertisements inform consumers about the environmental impact of products

    • Consumers can easily find out if a company supports fair trade

  2. People buying things they do not need

Cause & Effect

  • Advertising influences people and encourages them to buy things

—> Consumerism can boost the economy. It can create business and jobs

  • Some people always want to the latest model of anything in order to enhance their self-image

—> People can keep pace with the fast-changing technology

  • People like to compete with their neighbours to have the latest gadgets - the “keeping up with the Joneses syndrome”

—> People may overspend and get into debt

  • Some people become addicted to shopping and fashion

—> Society becomes a “throw-away society” producing unnecessary waste

  • People who are unhappy think “retail therapy” will help them

—> Increased demand for products can result in more low-quality products being made