Why are restrictions placed on advertisements
...t can even lead to death. A well-known slimming product, slim 10,was found to have side effects and some costumers suffer from liver failures. Nowadays young people and adults are particularly conscious of keeping fit and thin, and may resort to slimming products; hence restrictions are necessary to be placed on advertisements to protect the people. Another reason for restrictions is to avoid advertisers abuse advertisements; it is to ensure there is fair competition between the enterprises in the market. For advertisers to promote their product, they may resort to despicable means like condemn their rival’s product or services in order to “pull” their rival’s customers over to buy their products. This unfairness will create an unstable market structure and affect producers badly as it will spoil their reputation. There are cases that a software company sending advertisements to consumers via e-mail to criticise their rival. Obviously it has already abuse the power of this influential tool. Hence restrictions are needed to protect the right of the producers. Thirdly, restriction is placed for health purposes. There are several products that have a detrimental effect on health. For example, cigarettes can cause lung cancer and brain damage, and it is very addictive. Very often these goods have very negative effect on countries, especially those in third world countries as people can be easily influence due to low illiteracy. Tobacco products are not allow to be advertised; while in some developed and developing countries. In Hong Kong, it is allowed to be advertised but a warning that occupy one-third of the advertisement space must be included that remind the public that smoking is bad for health. However in third word countries, laws are lax and it’s revenue that helps the poor government, hence these advertisements still take place. It is impossible to get rid of these advertisement totally as even the government do not allow these advertisements to be spread over the media. For example, beers and cigarettes product are allowed to sponsor sports games, and it cannot possibility censor the entire show just because of these logos of these products. However, these advertisements should be bad or restricted to discourage people to consume these products. Last but not least, the purpose of restriction is to discourage materialism. Exploitive advertising will brainwash people, especially the youngster, who are impressionable into becoming eager consumers and capitalists. Advertisements encourage children, even adults, to become materialistic as advertisements associate happiness with the possession of particular goods. ...