Misleading advertisements

1. Should grossly misleading advertisements be stopped before they are ever broadcast or printed? What are the checks and balances in place in your own country to perform this task? Is it a fool-proof system?

2. One of the industries closely watched by the FTC is the weight-loss industry. Find three advertisements from magazines, newspapers, or television that deal with weight loss. What claims were made? Do you believe the claims are truthful and legitimate? How do you, as a consumer, distinguish between what is truthful and what is deceptive?

Advertising directed toward children remains a hot topic among parents and educators. Many feel that advertising unfairly targets children and creates materialistic desires. By the time a child is three years old, she already knows many brands of products, such as McDonald’s.

What is your opinion of advertising to children? Is the current regulation enough, or should it be more stringent?

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