Answer :
The article explains how advertising influences children to become materialistic by making them believe that owning certain products will bring happiness and social acceptance. It also highlights the role of parental guidance in countering these effects. The pervasive nature of commercial content complicates efforts to teach children to differentiate between wants and needs.
The article discusses how advertising and media exposure can lead children to develop materialistic values. By constantly seeing ads for desirable products and lifestyles, children may start to believe that owning these items will make them happy and socially accepted. This phenomenon is exacerbated by the way advertisers target specific age groups with psychologically persuasive techniques, creating unrealistic consumption goals and dissatisfaction.
Parents and critics argue that the high volume of commercials children see, particularly those promoting junk food or branded clothing, can negatively influence their attitudes and behaviors. While some blame media exposure for issues like childhood obesity and materialism, the article also points out that parental guidance plays a crucial role in mitigating these effects. Nonetheless, the overwhelming presence of commercial content makes it challenging for children to distinguish between wants and needs, fostering a culture of consumption over saving.