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Are We Falling Victim to Advertisements?
The statistics vary, but on average, Americans see approximately 5,000 advertisements per day. That’s right — 5,000 per day. If you live in New York? I can’t imagine how much that number sky rockets. As for you living under a rock, do you still use the Internet? Listen to the radio? Even podcasts? What about magazines? TV?
There are trained professionals who research who to target and captivate and where to interject and sprinkle. These days, advertisements (also sometimes disguised under the name sponsors) pay for athletes, television networks, broadcasting companies, start-up companies online — especially online — jewelry stores, retail clothing, even apartment listings. It is insane how technology has even programmed its content to cater to its user. Have you ever been talking about perfume, for example, and the next ad you see on your Pandora is a promotion for Chanel? I have. And it fucking scares me.
I fear that we as society have fallen victim to advertisements in all the wrong ways. Sure, they started out as a marketing scheme to drive business or even to educate (such as the AIDS Foundation). But now? Now, there are marketers who suck the souls of any passerby who might even be a tiny bit thirsty… until they are reminded that a Coca-Cola vendor is right around the corner. And not only that, but it is a classic two-for-one deal! Who could…
