Without websites and so much TV, how were we marketed to when we were children? Obviously I was not aware of it at the time, but the way I remember hearing about new toys was through catalogs or other friends. As I mentioned in an earlier blog, we did not get a computer until I was at least in junior high so that means I spent a lot of time just playing outside and using my imagination. It’s really difficult to think that just twenty years ago we were without so much technology.
How many of us composed our Christmas list from the JcPenney catalog and then were disappointed when Santa didn’t bring those products that were specific to Penney’s? We still got plenty of things though and we left it up to our parents to present us with even a few surprises.
Now children could go onto a website like Amazon, compose an entire wish list, and then email it out to family and friends. While it doesn’t seem appropriate, it is simply characteristic of the way things are today. We want things when we want them and are now willing to wait.
By exposing our children to so many marketing messages, we are providing them with the options of anything they could have ever possibly imagined. The question has come up many times whether or not marketing to children is ethical. In this case, I don’t think it is a matter of ethics, it’s just kind of sad that children can become so overwhelmed with marketing messages.
