No, Online Marketing Isn't Making Your Kids Fat
from the I-don't-think-that's-how-it-works... dept
For years, we've been hearing all sorts of stories blaming technology for making kids fat, whether it's TV, video games, sitting around on the internet or not getting enough sleep because they're playing with gadgets all night. Of course, almost all of those are anecdotal reports based on what people think is the reason for childhood obesity. When you look at the actual research, it shows that there's simply no connection between technology and fat kids. Of course, that doesn't make for a good headline... so, again, we get stories about obese kids, where technology is to blame. This time it's even more ridiculous than usual. While you can sort of understand the reasoning for the other claims, the latest is that online marketing is making our kids fat. Apparently, the reason our kids are so fat (or so the claim goes) is because unhealthy foods are being advertised to kids via online marketing. The folks making this claim are now asking the FTC to step in and stop such ads. Of course, this ignores the fact that it's still the parents who are buying the food for the kids and its still the kids who are eating the food. The article quotes a mother who complains that it's difficult to not let her kids eat at McDonalds more than twice a month -- though, she doesn't explain why she can't just refuse to take them there. Instead, she says how difficult it is to explain that McDonalds is unhealthy. Why? That part isn't explained. It's certainly true that these brands focus some advertisements towards kids, but that's no excuse for not teaching kids the importance of healthy eating.
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Why?
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Re: Why?
In the end though, parents do not approach a healthy lifestyle right. You could eat at McDonald's once a week and with proper exercise be perfectly fine. Substituting good eating habits for a balanced life (exercise, reading, food, etc.) is not going to make you all that much healthier.
Beside, my mom had an easy time with it. Every Saturday we would plan our meals for the week, including McDonald's if we wanted to go that week. That way there was no argument out in public of what to eat, we all knew what was on the menu.
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You're right, Doc. And that's why advertising is done the way it is. It's a well documented fact that kids brains absorb like a sponge in the years from infancy to childhood. Advertisers are aware of this and use every possible means to filter their products in. Cartoon characters and clowns hawk and peddle Happy Meals with plastic crack contained therein. The idea is to get them hooked early. This strategy also enables them to recruit the most inexpensive and unrelenting soldier to persuade parents everywhere...A three year old.
This strategy works all the way through their target's teenage years. And although I do agree with Mike in that parents ultimately have the ability and responsibility to make better choices about what their kids eat, he must also consider that we don't allow cigarette ads on television for the very same reason.
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Re: Re: Re: Why?
DON'T LET THE TV BABYSIT.
I'm Not a parent, but that's obvious even to me. If you have a child then TAKE CARE OF IT. I'm sick of these damn parent wannabes that just don't care enough to put the effort into raising their children.
Oh and on the "ugly scene" caused by a three year old I see people saying no to young children an (Shocker) there is no ugly scene, so it can be done. And if there is an scene (I have seen that too and ignored it for the sake of the parent) then you shouldn't feel bad about it. If someone complains then let them know that they obviously don't know the first thing about raising a child.
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Re: Why?
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Poor kids
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Re: Poor kids
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Why are we so fat?
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Re: Why are we so fat?
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Re: Re: Why are we so fat?
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Re: Why are we so fat?
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Seriously?
However, it is ultimately up to the parents to stop being such weenies when it comes to parenting their kids. Make your children go outside, limit their TV/video game time, don't buy them that Reese's and don't take them to McDonalds, and for god sakes don't be afraid to give 'em a bump on their rump for doing something wrong (DON'T abuse them, theres a difference).
I think all this technology is making for lazy parents, who are to busy on their blackberry or cell phone or checking e-mail or online bank statements to give a darn what their kids are doing. Instead of spending their time parenting, they are supporting these groups that do mass parenting for the whole country. We all know I want to be parented and censored still as an adult (sigh).
Kind of a sloppy post but all in all can technology and online advertising make your kids fat? Yes, but it's your fault for allowing these newfangled vices to influence them, and ultimately you, in your decision making.
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Fatness...
Solving the weight problem among kids should start with solving the weight problem among their parents. Kids will follow good examples as well as bad ones.
Not that all hefty kids have fat parents or that all fat parents necessarilly set a bad example. I'm speaking in generalities, that I observe to be *generally* true.
In any event, I sure don't buy it has anything to do with technology.
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Responsibility
Parents are making the government do the parenting nowadays. It's all the blame game until someone else decides to fix your own problems. It's true that advertisements are becoming more malicious and relentless, but parents are also letting it happen. Forcing the government to take action isn't the way to solve it either. Turning the TV or computer off is one way. I know someone who lets her daughter push her around. When she tells her daughter to turn the TV off, her daughter either ignores her or yells at her. Her daughter is fourteen. I know that if I would have done something like that when I was fourteen, my dad would have smacked me (not saying violence is the only solution, it's just my personal example).
I would say that obesity has nothing to do with technology. It's the parent's own fault if they allow their child access to technology. It's not technology's fault. It's being used as a scapegoat.
And I would agree that advertisements relentlessly attack. My own son calls every fast food restaurant "McDonald's" even if it's an Arby's or Burger King. It reminds me of the Kleenex complex. Instead of identifying it as a tissue (fast food restaurant), my child calls it a Kleenex (McDonald's).
However, in the end I believe it is still the parent's fault to what the child is subjected to.
-B
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Responsiblity
Are you suggesting that as adults and parents in America we should take responsibility for our own actions? I mean are you serious it is my own fault that I have raise my child up to get his own way by my lack of action? How absurd to think that we should exept the consequences of our actions, I have been taught my whole life it is always someone else’s fault.
My parents didn’t tolerate this kind of behavior and we didn’t do it, but we allow our children to do it and they do. I have a three year old son and he is very active, it requires my wife and I to disciple he continuously, even when we do not feel like it. He does on occasion through a fit in the store, and it is embarrassing, but he still does not get what he wants. The point is that as his parent it is my responsibility to teach him right from wrong, and that includes what he learn from watching me.
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Its not the ads...
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Bad parenting is the ONLY problem
Technology is GREAT and I too am sick of lazy parents blaming TV and technology on their kids being fat. Here, I am using technology to be sure my kid CAN'T see those awful commercials, peddling unhealthy crap to my kid. The DVR is the greatest tool a parent could ever have. You want to know something... My child, who is two years old now, doesn't even know what McDonald's is. She's never seen a McDonald's commercial in her life. We've never taken her to one. I will NEVER have to hear my kid whining and begging to take her to the most disgusting "restaurant" in the world. And it's all because I used TECHNOLOGY to block all the Mcdonald's ads. And I'm not afraid to say NO! Tantrums in the grocery store? Sure, they happen. There's no reason to "give in" just to shut the kid up. If you're not prepared to deal with a screaming toddler at the store...please don't have kids.
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And...
Children getting the idea for McDonald's grease is usually from tv and NOT the Internet in my opinion, which is why this whole discussion of the evils of the Internet is silly.
And for you that do not have children on this forum, SHUT UP!! You have NO clue what it is like to raise a child. You can be perfect and discipline them without violence, but there are always fights and embarrassing scenes. Just because you do not REMEMBER Pitching a fit when you were 2 or 3, doesn't mean you didn't!
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THIS ARTICLE
tata
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THE ONE ABOVE
I go on the computer all the time, but i dont blame technology, i blame myself! Coz no one can hold me back from the bueno bars at the shops, what ya parents gonna do? Tie you up?...ERM NO!
OBESITY ROCKS!
PS, IM AMERICAN. X
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Re: THE ONE ABOVE
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emma yu r sumthin else!!
i think that kids like us need to get some exercise just look at us =D
i like food though and i dont think that we should ban all fatty foods we need choccy!
welll!
goodbye and dont forget to get running tonite emma ill meet you on the bridge hunniiii :s
bizzle
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Computers are to blame
I bet they are just sat there, messing about, you say you are doing coursework, you seem to be working really hard there tb kirby and Abz Kebabz? This is a serious matter and we are trying to debate in a grown matter to sort out the issue. Grow up, stop sitting there getting fatter.
I find that technology should be blamed for all things, for the children messing about above are a perfect example, they are supposed to be working and they are just writing silly comments on the website....enough said really, dont you think?
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Re: Computers are to blame
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whatever i see
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what do you think!
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