Question

Discuss any five reasons as to why Advertisements are criticised.

Answer 1

1. Higher Price: Advertising can lead to higher prices for products as the costs associated with advertising are ultimately passed on to consumers. On the other hand, if advertising results in significant production on a large scale, it may not cause price increases.
2. Creation of Monopoly: Large corporations invest significant sums of money in advertising. Smaller companies find it challenging to compete with larger ones, which often leads to their eventual downfall. Consequently, large corporations establish monopolies and leverage their dominant position to take advantage of consumers.
3. Wastage of Resources: Spending money on advertising is simply a waste as it fails to contribute to the overall value of products and services. Many advertisements go unnoticed or fail to capture the attention of consumers. Advertisements do not generate fresh demand, but rather redirect existing demand from one product to another.
4. Deceptive and Untruthful: Advertisements often resort to false statements and exaggerated claims in order to impress people. Consequently, unsuspecting individuals are deceived into purchasing subpar and even useless products. Advertising can unfortunately provide opportunities for fraudulent and deceptive practices.
5. Extravagance: Advertising entices individuals to purchase items beyond their financial means. They become excessively indulgent and have no qualms about resorting to unethical methods in order to increase their earnings. Such circumstances can lead to a sense of dissatisfaction and unethical behaviour within our communities.
6. Vulgarity: Advertisements manipulate the emotions and sentiments of people. Some advertisements can be considered vulgar, obscene, and lacking in intelligence. These statements are highly inappropriate and disrespectful towards societal norms and women. Nevertheless, it is possible to verify this by upholding moral and ethical standards in advertisements. Advertising is often utilised to boost the sales of products that may negatively affect health, such as cigarettes and spirits.