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Yes, they were that bad and were getting worse. By the late 90's, most ads directed at young children were reminiscent of a bad acid trip. Flashing lights and c
by standardUser 8y ago
Yes, they were that bad and were getting worse. By the late 90's, most ads directed at young children were reminiscent of a bad acid trip. Flashing lights and colors, non-stop quick-cuts and people literally screaming over and over for you, a child of 6 or 7 years, to BUY THE THING! YOU GOTTA HAVE IT! COLLECT THEM ALL!
It was absolutely terrifying and we should all be collectively ashamed for allowing it to persist and to happen in the first place.
Here's a random example I just found on YouTube (first 30 seconds): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXzR3-w3vEQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXzR3-w3vEQ
- owlninja 8y agoMy kids have literally zero disposable income. I'm not saying I enjoy ads or that we need more, but HN goes really over the top against advertising.
- ceejayoz 8y ago> My kids have literally zero disposable income. They can ask to use yours, though, which is what most kid-targeted advertising looks to cause.
- owlninja 8y agoAnd you just say no?
- ceejayoz 8y agoSure, you can, but most parents don't say no every time, and that means sometimes asking's going to pay off. Some of the "kidfluencer" content out there is clearly aimed at giving kids talking points to bring to their parents. Before we banned YouTube from the house a few years back, I had a couple experiences where my kids would come and give me canned marketing copy - "it's fun and educational for the whole family!" sort of nonsense - they'd clearly cribbed off a video. One specific example of this I can remember: "EvanTube". Started off cute and relatively non-commercial, but turned into very clearly paid marketing. https://www.fastcompany.com/3045807/meet-the-father-son-team-making-13-million-on-youtube https://www.fastcompany.com/3045807/meet-the-father-son-team...
- rpedela 8y agoDo you want them to constantly ask for useless junk or unhealthy junk (e.g. sugary cereal)? Throwing a tantrum when they don't get their way?
- ssully 8y agoAds like that suck, but I think you are pearl clutching a bit.
- whamlastxmas 8y agoThose don't look like ads from the 90s.