Nowadays consumers are faced with the advertisements from competitive companies. To what extent do you agree that consumers are influenced by advertisements? What measures should be taken to protect them?

To capture consumers’ attention and increase sales, enterprises are bombarding the market and their target consumers with constant marketing strategies through advertising. This practice has undoubtedly caused some adverse impacts on consumers. However, there are effective measures to cope with these negatives. First, advertising encourages the habit of impulse shopping, leading to an over-consumption lifestyle and a throw-away society. Given that advertisements are designed with vivid graphics, strong effects and celebrity endorsement, this will create an emotional appeal and sway consumers into buying newly released products, making them happy, giving them status, and satisfying their desire. Consequently, many tend to replace their current products with the latest models such as a newer iPhone with some little upgrades, which is a waste of money. Further to this, some advertising campaigns encourage unhealthy habits, in particular consuming fast food. For example, fast food agencies always focus on the perfect taste, convenience, and reasonable price in their advertisements. They will not mention the high risks of obesity and other related- health issues. There are some actions that should be taken to protect buyers. A practical solution would be to impose laws concerning consumers’ rights. An advert must be truthful and non-deceptive. This means that if a company falsely advertises, it could face a heavy fine or a ban. Therefore, a strict content check must be carried out before the publishing of a commercial to ensure the accurate description of a product. Another remedy is for consumers to raise their knowledge to become wise customers. They should read online reviews and take their needs into account prior to any purchase decisions. Finally, most buyers now proactively avoid advertising by unsubscribing email newsletters, and magazines, watching less TV, and using ad blockers. In conclusion, at its core, the influence of advertising in everyday life is the power to alter what consumers think and feel. Those proposed steps should be taken by the government as well as individuals.