Hot Topic (8/9): Should there be a ban on television advertisements aimed at children?

[Cafe GroupAdmin]

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A great deal of advertising on television is aimed at children, promoting not only toys and sweets but also products such as food, drink, music, films and clothing to young consumers from toddlers to teenagers. Increasingly this practice is coming under attack from parents’ organizations, politicians and pressure groups in many countries. Sweden, Ireland, Greece, Italy, Denmark and Belgium all currently impose restrictions, and these have also been proposed in most other EU countries and in the USA. Within Europe, the forthcoming EU Television Without Frontiers Directive, due to be issued by 2004, is likely to focus attention upon the issue as the advertising industry and anti-advertising groups battle over whether age restrictions should be imposed upon the whole EU in the future. A key factor in any debate will be the age definition of “children”. Recent campaigns in the USA and Britain have concentrated upon banning advertising to under-fives watching "toddler-television", but a Swedish proposal for an EU-wide ban applies to under-12s.

What are your thoughts?

[stormcris]

I think the word "No" works well.

[eaglemama2]

While I agree there is a ton of crap out there these days, you cannot impose such restrictions in a free world.   It really comes down to the parents who should be deciding what their child watches and when.   You can't put your kids in a fish bowl either for sooner or later they will be exposed to something, somewhere, somehow.

[texanmommy]

 Ummmm, no, as parents we are supposed to pay attention to what our children watch. If anyone prefers for their children not to watch because whinning ensues for the item in ad, don't let them watch.

[hsteele]

Yeah, I agree, No is pretty useful word. Besides my daughter rarely pays attention to gets commercials. For some reason she wants the weirdest things off of TV. Including teeth whitener. She's 3.

[christina0607]

I think if you feel your under-five year old is being exposed to to much advertising...then you really need to evaluate how much television your child is watching.

[mmtosam06]

Ditto

Quoting christina0607:

I think if you feel your under-five year old is being exposed to to much advertising...then you really need to evaluate how much television your child is watching.

[lilyrose73]

Quoting mmtosam06:

Ditto

Quoting christina0607:

I think if you feel your under-five year old is being exposed to to much advertising...then you really need to evaluate how much television your child is watching.

[EireLass]

I think kids shouldn't watch TV or at least parents should minimize the amount they do watch. Don't blame advertisers.....the responsibility of a child belongs to the parent. 

[luvnmamaof2]

If you ask for it you don't get it, that is what I tell my 4 year old although he is good about what he sees on t.v. You can not avoid something just because it will start a conflict with your child, they need to learn on their own. You would have the same problem if you took them out to a store somewhere, would you by them whatever they seen NO so what is the difference if it is on t.v.

[ColtsFan1912]

just the kidzbops ones cause their as annoying as all get out