Debate Topic:

Advertising to Adolescents: Regulate vs. Violate Freedom of Speech

Advertisements have been said to negatively impact our nation’s adolescent population. Teens today are exposed to thousands of ad messages via our nation’s mass media – newspapers, magazines, radio, television, cable, and the Internet. Advertisers spend enormous sums of money targeting teenagers as consumers. In fact, reports have shown that as of the year 2000, corporations were spending $12 billion a year to market their products to children. (http://www.watchoutforchildren.org/html/congressional_briefing.html)

Parents and concerned citizens argue that advertisements targeting teenagers promote unhealthy lifestyles and often do so by using marketing themes more suited to adults. The result: adolescents are increasing more violent, more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol, and more prone to eating disorders. Those who believe advertisements are responsible for these types of unhealthy behaviors argue that children are especially susceptible to persuasive ad messages. They feel adolescents must be protected. Therefore, they support the regulation of advertising by the FCC and FTC.

Others feel this desire for regulation is alarmist. They believe advertising’s effect on teenagers is grossly over-estimated. They also believe that regulation violates an advertiser’s right to freedom of speech under the First Amendment. Those who do not favor regulation argue that parents and schools should be doing more to intervene and explain ad messages to children. They also say self-regulation by the advertising industry is a more appropriate solution in a free society.

Instructions:

Pick a side to debate: Argue either in support of regulation OR against regulation of advertising. Both sides should consider the overview above AND review the following web links, as well as any other research, that helps them build a credible argument in support of their position.

Impact of Advertising and Marketing on Children’s Health and Well-being
http://watchoutforchildren.org/html/congressional_briefing.html
http://watchoutforchildren.org/html/comments_by_enola_aird.html

Commercial Alert
http://www.commercialalert.org/

Media Education Foundation
http://www.mediaed.org/news/articles/oprah

MediaChannel.org – “Marketing to Kids” (Scroll & view all related links)
http://www.mediachannel.org/atissue/consumingkids/index.shtml

Education by Parents & Self-Regulation = More Effective
http://www.mediachannel.org/getinvolved/teachkids.shtml
http://www.caru.org/carusubpgs/guidepg.asp

Search Words: advertising and behavior, advertising and adolescents, regulation of advertising