Advertising has always been used to create desires that are difficult to satisfy without buying something. Advertisers aim to sell products through emotional triggers and images that appeal to their audience's aspirations and fears. In this way, they promote an unrealistic ideal of what it means to be attractive and beautiful by portraying models who are airbrushed to perfection. By doing so, advertisers play on people's insecurities about their bodies and physical appearance and make them feel like they need to buy certain products in order to be accepted socially or even loved romantically.
Teenagers are particularly vulnerable to these messages because they often struggle with self-esteem issues related to puberty and body changes. The media industry is taking advantage of this by creating ad campaigns explicitly designed to target young audiences, which can have long-lasting consequences for their development and wellbeing. One example is Victoria's Secret, one of the most famous lingerie brands worldwide, whose marketing strategy targets teens as much as adults. Their model images are often sexualized and exaggerated, making girls believe that being sexy means showing skin and conforming to a specific type of beauty standard.
Another example is the controversial 'Hot Cheetos' commercial where a male character admits his love for a girl after seeing her eat chips in a suggestive manner. This ad suggests that sexiness and intimacy are closely linked to food consumption and reinforces stereotypes about men and women's roles in relationships. It also shows how advertising can manipulate the viewer into buying products associated with desirability and sexual appeal.
Advertising exploits the fears of young people and promotes unrealistic expectations about what it takes to be successful in life and attractive. Companies profit from this by selling products that promise instant gratification but leave consumers feeling empty afterward. Instead of trying to address insecurities through healthy coping mechanisms such as therapy or self-acceptance, they use manipulative strategies that create more anxiety and dissatisfaction in individuals.
It is essential that parents talk openly with their children about these issues and encourage them to question media messages. We need to promote healthier body image ideals in schools and communities so that young people understand that there is no single standard of beauty or sexuality, and everyone has unique qualities worth celebrating. By doing this, we can reduce the impact of harmful advertising on our youth's mental health and wellbeing.
How do advertisers exploit insecurities to instill erotic ideals in teens?
One way that advertisers exploit insecurities to instill erotic ideals in teens is through the manipulation of body image expectations. Advertising campaigns often present unrealistic images of female bodies that are slender, toned, and flawless, which may make young people feel inadequate about their own physical appearance.