ETHICAL DILEMMA
You open your sister’s lunch bag to discover a letter and product samples from the Nesquick Bunny. Upon reading the letter, you learn that the Nesquick Bunny, as part of an advertising campaign, is visiting schools to promote the importance of daily exercise for children (and not directly mentioned, to promote its various chocolate products). Your sister (only 10 years old) has no clue she was part of an advertising ploy; she was just excited to have seen the Nesquick Bunny and gotten free chocolates.
QUESTION
What are your thoughts on this type of advertising tactic?
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If the Bunny gave the message of a healthier lifestyle and chocolate in moderation than this was not unethical. If the message was in no way teaching moderation of such products than it was unethical.
ReplyDeleteTo ask the question another way...
ReplyDeleteWas it ethical or unethical for Nesquick to promote daily exercise to children while also handing out its products for the kids to sample and take home for pester their parents to buy more of this product?
I think this depends on the Bunny's message in conjunction with the passing out of the product. If the message was positive than it is not just a ploy. If there was no education in the moderation of sweets than yes its unethical. I cant assume the message was negative.
ReplyDeleteWell, this ethical dilemma leads us into today's discussion - the ethics of persuasion.
ReplyDeleteYour textbook addresses people as ‘consumers’ whereas philosophy and politics addresses people as ‘citizens’. Is the concept of ‘consumer’ and ‘citizen’ compatible or incompatible in advertising? Can advertisers inform people as citizens of society on one hand and consumers of products/services on the other?
BTW, Frankie is having tech problems with his wifi connection.
ReplyDeleteCorrene, are you there?
ReplyDeleteI'd have to say no,there is a conflict. Citizens are addressed in a more straight forward fashion where in the ad world as consumers they my be swayed. However we do see this straight forward conduct for citizens. Also Obama's campaign is a great example of addressing citizens through advertising.
ReplyDeleteInteresting perspective. This leads us to the ultimate question:
ReplyDeleteWhat is the difference between persuasion and information as advertising strategies?
Information is facts what can be tested and proven. Persuasion is the information tweaked to appeal to emotions or needs.
ReplyDeleteYou're almost there. Persuasion convinces consumers through advertising various tactics whereas information seeks to inform people about matters of public interest i.e. don’t drink and drive, wear sunscreen).
ReplyDeleteSo to go back to your Obama campaign example, was Obama persuading or informing us?
ReplyDeleteits frankie!!! i have connection... for now. so, do i answer the question or have we moved on?
ReplyDeleteBoth his persuasions were in the honesty of his opinions. we as citizens are largely attracted to honesty. Although his information was honest and factual it was no less persuasive.
ReplyDeleteStart with this question, Frankie.
ReplyDeleteYour textbook addresses people as ‘consumers’ whereas philosophy and politics addresses people as ‘citizens’. Is the concept of ‘consumer’ and ‘citizen’ compatible or incompatible in advertising? Can advertisers inform people as citizens of society on one hand and consumers of products/services on the other?
So, to go back to the original question regarding 'consumers' versus 'citizens'. Advertising persuades us through its various tactics as 'consumers' whereas information to educate approaches people as 'citizens'.
ReplyDeleteWould you agree that there is a difference?
I think advertisers can go both ways in considering people as consumers or citizens. people are citizens first before they are consumers, but depending on what they are selling, an idea, product, service, or campaigne will determine whether they are viewed as "people" or as "possible buyers".
ReplyDeletegood answer Frankay=)
ReplyDeleteWhat are your thoughts, Correne?
ReplyDeleteI answered this question
ReplyDeleteyes there is a difference but they can aslo merge ie obama
ReplyDeleteIs persuasion, under the guise of information, ethical or not? Therefore, is it wrong for advertisers to convince consumers to purchase a product/service under the guise of safety, health, financial gain?
ReplyDeletei will have to slightly disagree with the portions of citizens being directly just an educational informative choice. for example, the current marketing campaign of reducing overconsumption of alcohol with college age students. we are trying to advertise a reason to reduce binge drinking, so we are advertising and idea or suggestion. yes we are addressing them as citizens but we are also selling them a new better "way of life" that'll benefit them versus hurt
ReplyDeletethanks correne!!! <3
ReplyDeleteSo Frankie, you think as advertisers we can persuade and inform?
ReplyDeleteno this not unethical these areas of advertising and information will inevitability cross over. Ultimately useful public information will be advertised as a result. Good for everyone.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you both, that as advertisers, we can inform and persuade. The caveat to this would be if the information is misleading or deceiving. Then, we have an ethics problem.
ReplyDeleteSo to put another spin on this discussion -
ReplyDeleteis it ethical for advertising to persuade people to consume more products and services than they truly need?
to answer both questions.
ReplyDeletein persuasion, i don't think it is wrong to put a product or service under a guise of information if it truely does that. it is not unethical. i view it as an eye catching feature that draws in consumers and makes that product or service stick out. for example. acnefree versus proactive. they both are more or less the same but acnefree can be obtain anywhere and their testimonial of "works better than proative" makes people feel more relatable and price conscious.
for the second part.
yes i think advertisers have the right to persuade and inform. without any means to draw in the consumer what do you have? a blank unappearling product just there on the shelf? or what about a commercials or posters. if it direct and do the point is clutter and just a waste of space and time to even consider considering it.
No that's the advertisers job. It the increasingly savvy consumers job to know how much they really need to buy.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think, Frankie?
ReplyDeleteIs it ethical for advertising to persuade people to consume more products and services than they truly need?
with the new spin on things. i would consider that unethical. instead of trying to make a persons life more benefitial or better, its pushing for sales and money. it all boils down to the dollar bills and everybody wants a piece. however, an increase in a product might be good for some people who need that increase in the target segmentation, but they can't directly single out a person. the best a company can do is advertise and the people that its suppose to affect will be affected if it gains their attention.
ReplyDeleteOkay, we may have lost Frankie again.
ReplyDeleteWe will continue the discussion of the ethics of persuasion in class on Thursday.
Time for a little review...
In class last week, we discussed three types of self-regulation. What are they?
total self reg. semi reg and total legislative reg.
ReplyDeleteOf the three types, Correne, which is the most common form of self-regulation by ad agencies?
ReplyDeletesemi?
ReplyDeleteYes ma'am! The most common form of self-reg. is for agencies to work alongside groups like AAF to develop principles and standards.
ReplyDeletei will have to agree with semi. it deals with a little bit of the law, but it also have personal freedom.
ReplyDeleteIn the US, who is the primary regulator of deceptive advertising?
ReplyDeleteFDC
ReplyDeleteClose. FTC (Fed'l Trade Commission)
ReplyDeleteIn class last Thursday, we looked at the various legislative bodies that oversee the ad industry and summarized all of their Codes of Ethics into 5 simple principles. What are some of these 5 principles of ethics?
ReplyDeleteumm... aaf?
ReplyDeletedarn... i knew it started with an "F". my bad.
ReplyDeleteResponsibility accountability, decency, avoid misrepresentation, fair competition, protection and promtion
ReplyDeleteGood memory (or good note taking!):)
ReplyDeleteThe last principle - Protection and promotion of the reputation of the advertising industry -what is this all about?
responsibility to consumers, community and society.
ReplyDeletedecentcy, honesty, and truthfulness
avoid misrepresenation and deception
fair competition
protection and promotion of reputation of advertising industry
This is about them keeping advertisers in business with regulation
ReplyDeleteYes. by ensuring agencies are adhering to codes of ethics, it will further protect and ensure a future for our industry.
ReplyDeletethe advertising industry is a business that requires a good record of what it has done for promotion. they are protected under guidelines in what they can and cannot promote and also what has been promoted and how it'll come back to them if it fails.
ReplyDeleteGood discussion today, which we'll continue on Thursday. Any questions/concerns?
ReplyDeleteETHICS HOMEWORK REMINDER
ReplyDelete-Chapter 3 for Thursday, Feb. 12th
-Read case study 3E and answer questions for Thursday, Feb. 12th
-Article Journaling answers on Ethics blog (Walmart article) for Wed, Feb. 11th at 12pm
-BRING YOUR TEXTBOOKS TO CLASS!!!
thanks for letting me catch-up
ReplyDelete