Dbq Advertising Research Paper

Looking through the eyes of an adolescent, many things are seemingly a necessity. From clothes to materialistic things, advertising has brainwashed the American society and has stripped them of their better judgement. Although there are many perks to advertising like awareness, promotion, and entertainment, the advertising world is harmful to society.

Advertising is a downfall to society by promoting unhealthy products. By selling cigarettes and other tobacco products, the advertising world leaves out shortened lifespan due to the products. Instead of advertising to our advantage, they advertise to theirs. For example, Shaw and Alan stated that “advertising continued to increase the size of market, despite an expanding awareness of health risks.”(Source B) Tobacco products aren't the only unhealthy products though.The fast food industry plays a big role in societies obesity, which could lead to an unhealthy lifestyle. Commercials try their best to persuade by making the food look desirably delicious and tempting to eat while leaving out what is and what is not contained in the food. This is the disadvantage to society because they persuade us while knowing the cons and how we fall short due to temptation.

Another con of advertising is self consciousness.

This creates insecurities within ourselves because we are fixated to believe in living up to society's standards. In the advertising world, they constantly display how we should look instead of revealing that is okay to be who you are. As said by Nancy Day, “who was embarrassed by teeth that weren't blinding white?”. (Source D) It brainwashes us to believe that our teeth aren’t white enough. But for who, though? Humanity? Self consciousness leads to other detrimentalities like self harm, suicide, and depression but the advertising world sure does leave out raising

awareness.
Lastly, advertising creates biasness. It shifts the minds of society to go against something they are not even informed on. “A person unaware of advertising’s claim on him, said Schrank, is precisely the one most vulnerable to the ad’s attack.” This goes to show to that if the person is not fully aware of the purpose of the ad, it could easily persuade them to believe or not believe the message that is being relayed. Another example is a campaign commercial. They’re advertising who’s running for office versus their opponent and most of the time to choose to belittle the rival. As also said in Source E, “Ads are designed to have an effect while being laughed at, belittled, and all but ignored.” Belittling is a form of biasness.
In conclusion , advertising is harmful to society because it promotes unhealthy products, creates self consciousness, and it also creates biasness. Although advertising has many entertaining qualities, it strips people of their humanity more and more everyday.