In the contemporary era, advertising became an inseparable part of daily life, sparking a heated debate about its consequences. A large proportion of society believes that advertisement influence consumerism and persuade people to buy products they do not genuinely need. In my viewpoint, I completely agree with this argument and will shed some light in the upcoming paragraphs.
Firstly, advertisements often create artificial wants and fuel consumerism. That is, modern campaigns are designed to subtly persuade people to buy goods they have no actual need for. Indeed, targeted ads frequently exaggerate the benefits of a product and mislead vulnerable audiences, such as children, leading to an unneccessary spendings. For example, children cereal companies tend to supplement product with a toy, so offspring pester their parents to get the pack of unhealthy snack. Consequently, aggressive marketing creates artificial needs, moral pressure and wasteful expenses.
Secondly, large-scale advertising campaigns significantly increase the cost of products. Companies spend enormous sums of money on promotion, but these expenditures are never covered by the firms themselves. Instead, they are passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices. Luxury brands, for example, spend millions on media exposure to showcase their products, and the cost of this marketing is ultimately reflected in the inflated price tags. As a result, individuals pay not only for the item itself but also for the illusion created by advertising.
In conclusion, advertising is deceptive and takes away the freedom of choice, fostering avoidable expenses.