This is a really important issue. The US group "Campaign for a commercial free childhood" have made a film called "Consuming children" here is a trailer http://www.commercialexploitation.org/events/consumingkids.html

Is shows how the unregulated exposure of children to adverts by rapacious companies means they are being trained to be hyper consumers. This is done in total disregard of their health and wellbeing. I watched a lot of the film and was saddened and insensed at the way our kids are being exploited.

In Clive Hamilton's latest book "Requiem for a species" he states that advertising to kids was about $100 million in 1984. Now it is $17 trillion. The difference is deregulation and a handing over to companies the ability to advertise however they like to our children.

A culture and society that does this in my mind is amoral, cruel and self-destructive. The sooner we all throw out the crazy idea that the market should be allowed to do what it wants the better. We need to nurture our kids health, wellbeing and spirit and then we all benefit.

Correction $17 billion not trillion in advertising to kids. Still scary though!

Stop their pocket money!

That'll put a halt to the little buggers' consumption.

glad to see someone mention clive hamilton..will try and get the new book now. Totally agree but this is no mean feat.. it takes a lot of work to engage a child often against their own desires in other than screen activities..and screen activities are so "easy" for parents(I am one).
The fruits (results) are already there in the older youth as well..where clubbing and drinking etc are added to the mix of unconnecting uncaring activities.
This just a gut reaction..

oh , and would it be trite to mention the other child related advertising issue at the moment?? ie OUTDOOR ADVERTISING SHOULD BE G_RATED just thought I'd add that!!

'This is done in total disregard of their health and wellbeing'

Rubbish. As Our Ford says, 'ending is better than mending'.

Buy a new one instead of fixing the old one, because constant consumption, and near-universal employment to meet society's material demands, is the bedrock of economic and social stability for the World State.

I'd say that's a strong regard for children's current and future health and well being.