Advertising content

Advertisement in today's media has an overwhelmingly significant role in society's culture. Advertisements are posted and exhibited through virtually every medium of information, including billboards, radio, television, movies, magazines, newspapers etc,. Every individual in society is affected by advertisements because everybody is being constantly exposed to media advertisements. The impact of advertisements today is extremely controversial in regards to the content and the motivations from producers of the products being advertised and the advertisement agencies, which can be very profitable with advertisement being an essential part of a business.
The content in today's advertisement is especially controversial because there is the objective for advertisers to grab the attention of the audiences and promote the product in a desirable light. Methods for this are very eye-catching, with strong emphasis on sex, violence and other cultural stigmas that are being exploited in advertisements with the security of free speech and freedom of expression. Although freedom and liberties are very important and should arguably not be de-regulated under many circumstances, but the effects of negative and inappropriate content in advertisements are having a negative impact on society, glorifying behaviours and attitudes that are unhealthy. Children and teenagers, who are more deeply impacted and influenced by media, have a more materialistic attitude, seen solely as consumers to advertisers. Advertisers have resources, strategies and research tools to target specific interest groups for products in the most profitable ways, which questions their motives and principles when advertising products to individuals. Are the methods and approaches used in advertising appropriate for the viewers? In many cases, not. Should there be an intervention of government regulations to ensure that there is some decency and morality in advertisements? It would seem imperative in a constantly product-consuming society that is losing touch with its values.

Channel 1

I have never heard of Channel 1, which is surprising since apparently this program is viewed by millions of teenagers across the nation every morning. After watching the channel one program in lecture the other day, I was shocked by the lack of subtlety of blatant advertisements targeting teens, who are easily influenced. The primary sponsor, Cingular, suggested that teens are like zombies without the ownership of a cell phone and teenagers are encouraged to pressure their parents for material commodities such as this to be socially accepted. Although it seems as though Channel One is a program dedicated to educating students about important current global issues, the priorities of the network are clearly commercial advertisements.
I feel that it is frightening how much emphasis is placed on the power of purchasing and the desire for people to own as much "stuff" as possible and to buy the newest, latest and greatest product in the market. New innovations are put out onto the market all the time, encouraging people to constantly by the newest and updated technologies. Individuals in this society are being turned into consumer zombies, surrounded by advertisements telling them they need to buy certain products to make them feel a certain way and to be socially accepted. Even through a program that is supposed to target kids and educate them on important global issues, Channel One dedicates more airtime promoting products. It is frightening living in a society that places so much emphasis and importance on the economy and how much people are spending and buying. There are more important concerns in the world today that need the same, if not more, amount of attention, and the media is an important factor in spreading this message and informing citizens about current issues as opposed to advertisements for Cingular's most popular featured phone of the moment.

The Internet

The accessibility of the internet to the entire country is an important necessity that is denied to a surprisingly high proportion of the United States. Although some may not consider the internet to be an essential and necessary tool for living and survival, the internet is an important means for success and thriving in this country. The internet allows access to a seemingly infinite amount of information that can give individuals the ability to educate themselves and stay on top of current issues and events. In addition, the internet is being used increasingly more in jobs and in educational institutions. The internet is arguably the most useful and powerful resource one can use for everyday life.
Politically, the internet is an important way for individuals to be acknowledged and share their opinions with others. The internet gives everyone a voice, allowing more freedom and anonymity. The internet gives an individual the chance to contribute to society through this mass medium. Without the access to internet, millions of voices are not heard.
I feel that the internet should be affordable or even free to the entire country. As this world becomes increasingly dependent on the internet for jobs, relationships, research etc., denying the ability to access the internet would put those denied at a significant disadvantage in this society.
This is a generation of technological advancement that should give everyone the right and ability to experience and advantage from important inventions, specifically in reference to the internet.

Pirating

The piracy of movies, music and general entertainment is actively and commonly practiced globally, robbing the movie industry of potential royalties and profits. Although pirating is highly illegal and is technically considered stealing, I honestly feel that downloading music and purchasing bootleg DVDs shouldn't be handled with such authority and severity. Today, the average price for a DVD is $20, and the average price for a theater ticket is $8, which are expenses too costly for a majority of people. Entertainment has become a highly profitable industry that has turned this form of art into a commodity and monopoly, depriving audiences of a more creative and diverse variety of entertainment and maximizing profits by keeping costs excessively high.
Music and theater are culturally and historically forms of expression that are shared with others for meaning and enjoyment. Pirating and illegally downloading music may be considered stealing, but in my opinion, entertainment has been stolen from this culture by strong emphasis on capitalism. When individuals can hardly make enough income to pay rent and utilities, how are the majority of individuals expected to purchases one movie for $20? Downloading music and movies is arguably balancing out the exorbitantly high prices that the entertainment industry has been charging to consumers. I feel that it is unacceptable for purity and the artistic element of music and film to be turned into products for market. Individuals should have the right to listen, watch and enjoy different forms of art and media without being taken advantage of with high prices. Music and film is being exploited for its ability to make profit.