Question

Marketing to Children of the Web in the Age of Social Networks:

Should companies be allowed to target marketing efforts to children under the age of 13?

Answer 1

I think companies should not be allowed to target marketing efforts to children under the age of 13. There are sufficient reasons to believe that children under the age of 13 are not mentally matured enough to make conscious decisions and judgments. Therefore, they can be easily manipulated mentally and emotionally through sophisticated marketing efforts. Many empirical studies have concluded the issues like obesity can be directly linked to advertising targeted at children under the age of 13 by the fast food companies. Such psychological exploitation of children using marketing techniques impose various costs on the society. Therefore, companies should not be allowed to target marketing efforts to children under the age of 13.