...Kid Kustomers The author, Eric Shlosser, is reasonably critiquing how advertisers over the years have directed their products to the younger generations in order to create connections to the trade marketers. Through his use of strong diction and logos, he is convincing the audience that this form of advisement is unethical and wrong. He uses statistics and surveys to make his argument seem more persuasive. He uses one study from 1991 that “found that nearly all of America’s six- year-olds could identify Joe Camel that was just as familiar to them as Mickey Mouse.” Eric Shlosser argues that advertisers have aimed their advertisements toward younger generations so that they can get their parents to buy them the products. Nagging tactics are...
Words: 1112 - Pages: 5
...Eric Schlosser is a well respected journalist and author, who is well known for his investigative journalism. He often writes about social issues surrounding government and big industries. Eric Schlosser’s primary argument in “Kid Kustomers” is that big industries take advantage of children's naiveté to turn a profit. After reading his essay, and considering the hard facts and statistics that he employs, it becomes easy to agree with the message Schlosser puts forth in “Kid Kustomers”. Because of children’s lack of worldly experience and analytical skills, they are easily taken advantage of, without their knowledge. “Many studies have found that young children often could not tell the difference between television programming and television...
Words: 389 - Pages: 2
...been targeting children as their main customers and consumers. Eric Schlosser described them as “kid kustomers”, meaning companies are targeting children in their advertisements and getting them to want their products instead of the parents. On the business side of this, it makes sense. If children want the product due to advertising in a commercial they will be more likely to purchase that product when they become older. Schlosser, the Journal of Adolescent Health Care, and Health Economics give examples of the effects that are caused from child advertising. Personally, I believe it is smart for the companies and business to target children in their ads but it should be for the companies and businesses that are for children. Many companies have been targeting children in their commercials with their cartoons and mascots for a while. Personally when I was younger I thought that the Camels cigarette cartoon camel with the sunglasses smoking a cigarette was cool, and I wanted to look cool. This technique has been used for many different companies after they realized that it worked. One example Schlosser gave was how children are susceptible to liking animals or toys and they can be drawn to that product; The fast food industry has forged promotional links with the nation’s leading toy manufacturers… The major toy crazes of recent years, including Pokémon cards, Cabbage Patch Kids, and Tamogotchis, have been abetted by fast food promotions. A successful promotion easily doubles...
Words: 1179 - Pages: 5