Ads! Ads Everywhere!

Being exposed to advertising and marketing schemes is inevitable in today’s culture.  I can’t even count how many ads I was exposed to during the past 24 hours: less than 100? more than 100?  1000?  Persuasive (and sometimes invasive) ads are everywhere.  I woke up, and like any normal college-aged female, I checked Facebook and Twitter as if they were the morning news. 

This time, I ignored the posts from friends about what they did the night before, and instead turned my attention to the ads along the side.  They’re tailored to my “likes.”  For example, I “liked” a Greek website (where one purchases sorority or fraternity letters) and, go figure, an ad along the side was for a different Greek gear site.  It offered me coupons if I clicked the link and filled out a survey. 

On Twitter, certain things are promoted.  Today, it’s Sprint promoting their new phone.  Also on Twitter, accounts with a lot of followers typically gain sponsors or advertisers that pay them to put 140-character ads.  Personally, I follow my fair share of “girly” Twitter accounts, and the typical ads that they post relate to three main things: losing weight, teeth whitening, and fashion.  Obviously, they are stereotypical girl-things, but every once in a while, some of the weight-loss ones are borderline inappropriate.  One I saw was trying to sell a diet pill that promised to make you lose 14 pounds in ten days.  Granted, I understand the dangers of that, but it does concern me how many younger girls are on Twitter and may see this and believe that this is a healthy way to lose weight.

Besides ads on the internet, there are countless ads on television.  Generally, I don’t watch much television.  But the ads reflect the shows that are on.  It’s signaling at its finest.

I also saw many print ads.  In the New York Times there are many encouraging fashion (Tiffany’s ad on page two is a staple).  Even around campus there are fliers promoting different events and sales going on within various groups.  The potty paper in the stalls?  That’s a feminist ad if you ask me.  It promotes events and gatherings that revolve around (mostly) feminist issues. 

Once I opened my eyes and realized just how many ads are put in front of them daily, it made me feel slightly concerned.  I tend to tune out a majority of them, but I know many people who buy into these biased promotions constantly.