Can advertising go too far?

Advertisement is a part of life. Everywhere you go there is an advertisement of some kind whether it is on the bus, on the internet, in video games and in even in schools.

Even people that are playing computer games seem to be suffering as well with more and more “in game” advertisements being seen. The very first in game advertisement was seen in 1978 in a game called Adventureland. The advert was inserted into the game by the creator himself to publicise his upcoming game.

Football games started to set a trend as with each addition of FIFA came a new set of advertisments. It would seem that games have taken a leaf out of FIFA’s book in that more and more are seeing in game advertisements. One of the ones that annoyed many gamers was Splinter Cell as irt contained a giant bilboard that you couldnt possibly ignore as you had to climb over it to pass through part of the level itself.

Something that has started to cause huge arguments is the envolvment of corportate companies advertising within schools. The real question to ask is are corportate companies just trying their luck in a new sector or trying to almost trick the younger people into buying their products?

Companies advertise in schools in a variety of ways:

  • Sweet and candy companies have created educational posters which contain their advertisements.

 

  • A recent phenomenon in school canteens has been ’sponsored’ meals, with branded products being promoted.

 

  • Advertisers have begun placing display ads and posters on school buses so that kids are now seeing these advertisements at the beginning and end of each school day.

 

  • Recently even lessons have started to be sponsored by big corporate companies meaning that the kids have to learn about it. This does not sound too different to the times of Nazi Germany in which the dictator Adolf Hitler forced people to read and write about the Nazis, does it?

Advertisements are made in various ways across the world from print management solutions to Corporate identity design. exhibition display stands are now even used for advertisements when a company is hosting or attending a certain event.

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