The Power of Ads on Kids

CNN - From their favorite television shows to the internet, kids are bombarded with advertisements at an early age. Now, the government has launched a counter attack, with a new campaign. Here's what you need to know to turn your kids into savvy consumers.

There's no avoiding it, advertising is all around your kids. On t-v, at the movies, at the mall. Kids are exposed to advertisements at an early age. Now a new campaign by the Federal Trade Commission wants to teach kids about the power of commercial persuasion.
"We live in a highly commercialized environment, and it's really important for students to understand that advertising is a form of persuasion. People are trying to get them to think along the lines that the advertiser wants." says David Vladeck, FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection

At the core of the campaign, an internet game called Admongo. It has four levels of play that encourage critical thinking when faced with an ad. The game teaches kids to ask three questions. Who is responsible for the ad? What is the ad actually saying? And what does the ad want me to do? While it's designed for all ages, the campaign is specifically targeted at kids in their tween years. Vladeck points out, "This is the age at which kids begin to understand the difference between advertising and other content."
The ultimate goal, is to create the next generation of savvy consumers.

You can find a link to the game in the web links section at the bottom of this page.