Do ads add weight to kids?
Now, even the Federal Communications Commission is getting in on the fight against obesity.
The FCC announced Wednesday that it plans to study links between TV ads, viewing habits and the rising tide of childhood obesity, according to an Associated Press report.
"Small children can't weed out the marketing messages from their favorite shows," FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said Wednesday at a news conference. "Especially when the marketing campaigns feature favorite TV characters like SpongeBob or Scooby-Doo."
Martin cited reports showing the average child watches 2 to 4 hours of TV per day and views about 40,000 TV ads every year, most of them for cereal, candy, toys and fast food.
But hey, why stop with the kids? Adults also take in a steady diet of ads. I mean, who among us hasn't craved cookies after an appearance by the Pillsbury Doughboy?
Perhaps a decrease in food ads could help shrink adult waistlines too. Or is it more important to increase ad companies' bottom lines?
-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com
Comments
It seems reasonable to me that freedom of speech would trump protecting adults from themselves.
Don't misunderstand, I dislike ads. I get completely sucked into all the pretty moving pictures. But I know this, so I've simply never owned a TV. Those who are more interested in TV than I am could buy a TiVo, or find other ways to avoid ads.
The FCC is on firmer ground to set public policy protecting children. There is a reasonable assumption that children are unable to protect themselves. One would hope that's what parents are for, but the economic reality is that parents are absent for much of small children's waking hours.
Put another way: it's very hard to walk past certain smells without being lured in. Should we ban coffee or chocolate for smelling too good and providing temptation?
Posted by: Anon, Please | October 31, 2006 1:40 AM