How Advertising Rewires Kids' Brains

We see ads everywhere and kids are no exception. How does this flood of marketing affect a child's development?
LEARN MORE:
commercialfree...
screenfree.org/
FOLLOW US:
Facebook: / storyofstuff
Twitter: / storyofstuff
Instagram: / storyofstuff
SUPPORT THE PROJECT:
action.storyof...
SOURCES:
commercialfree...
Help us caption & translate this video!
amara.org/v/ocik/

[@KyloThomas304]

as a child, I used to hate adverts on the tv. Found them annoying in-between watching cartoons

[@ciclopez]

I think you are missing the most important thing: Children learn from what they see at home. So just removing adds targeting children from tv is not the solution, parents must stop being materialistic too.

[@nr4393]

You are absolutely right. Kids can grow watching tons of commercials and TV, and as long as their parents teach them to have critical and independent thinking, they should be able to see they are being manipulated. Banning ads is like saying we underestimate children's intelligence. Kids are so much smarter than what we think. give them tools to make up their own minds!

[@melissanunez9266]

Parents are the most influential people for sure. Environment and peers also exert great pressure though. Parents and peers can agree on building character and counter-attack negative messages from media. One more step is participate/cooperate in actions that can truly let advertisers know they are going too far , denounce this negative role, ssend letters thanking or protesting messages thrown at their kids. And even become influencers, research, write, promote positive messages that directly strike the industry. Parents have the right and the duty to protect their children and decide the education they want for them

[@uvwuvw-ol3fg]

@@melissanunez9266 How can they decide, if everything is a byproduct of a specific environment, even ideologies such as antinatalism based on consent.

[@letsthink8245]

@@uvwuvw-ol3fg Determinism vs free will?

[@Blue-Robin]

exactly

[@Katoph]

I once read about how products are placed strategically in supermarkets and stores. For example, products such as toys or food that kids like are placed on the lower shelves where a kid will be able to reach them easily. And also when we are in the checkout section, there are products such as gums and chocolates. These companies actually pay the stores to put them there, so if people have a second thought about buying it, they can just quickly get it from there.

[@audrey9302]

choice architecture!

[@saraangelo8031]

Children's advertising is banned here in Quebec. Not that kids watch TV anymore anyways.

[@stonythewoke9921]

this is great because ads only exist on tv

[@luisalfredoacostaurgelles940]

Excellent Video! Excuse me for chiming in, I would love your opinion. Have you heard about - Miyatalie Social Saccade (should be on google have a look)? It is a great one off guide for discovering how make money on the internet using this simple traffic technique minus the hard work. Ive heard some super things about it and my work buddy finally got excellent success with it.

[@afsarahmed6365]

@@stonythewoke9921 ads exist where tech giants' ad networks are not just on tv

[@stonythewoke9921]

@@afsarahmed6365 :D no shit sherlock?

[@dizzy_jump]

@@stonythewoke9921 this is wrong

[@BethGrantDeRoos]

Am thinking of the dozens of families we know as well as our own family and relatives and NONE of us have had a tv set for years. We even have young adults who knowing that minority communities are targeted more in ad and have the MOST junk food places, food deserts instead of healthy supermarkets, think its racists. They use the word racist! I agree. This is why we support after school, and week end programs that are geared to low income kids, where they can benefit from the non commercial activities our family takes for granted. Programs that stress healthy eating (meals provided), tutoring etc. so kids also do better in school.

[@DrJohnnyJ]

Michele Obama worked hard for these things.

[@thinagardner2002]

This is a good point. If we really care for the future of our children, we must act now. It also shows that some adults became lax and complacent on checking what their children are watching. Thank you for this video. God bless!

[@danielaochoa4556]

This is why we invest in Tinkergarten and we support the Free Forest School. Try to get them out and about and moving and exploring!

[@latinhero1818]

And I still remember the catchy jingles and tunes from all those kids commercials , almost 30 years later.

[@hungrymagikarp1736]

The Wii U ad did not work

[@remembergogmagog848]

Ccfc! Finally i found these guys again! I followed them since i first joined facebook in 2008

[@calinechouman3897]

Oof nice, I was not existed

[@twyce4238]

It would be funny if thy had an add on this video 🤣

[@witchwitha]

they did

[@aramisjenkin6385]

Ew fortnite profile picture

[@iAmPloz]

@@aramisjenkin6385 ew stereotypical hater. I personally do not like the game but I don't go out of my way to lower someone's self esteem just because they found something they like and care about. Get a life.

[@aramisjenkin6385]

@@iAmPloz it’s called being ironic... you should look up the definition

[@iAmPloz]

@@aramisjenkin6385 yea it may be ironic but you failed to show the irony in it😑

[@troybird8253]

Market segmentation and the marketing mix is the base. The tools are smart devices, visual and auditory manipulation from tv programming. Smart devices allow for cross device tracking and creates direct contact in manipulation tactics, among creating psychological problems with believing what they are hearing, directly or indirectly from advertisers, social programmers or are seeing on their screen that was also triggering the elements of what they are being told to invest in or think about.

[@snpkvt]

Hi, I wanted to check out the source for this video, but the webpage seems to no longer be active. Please let me know where I can find out more information?

[@TheBeast1911]

Kids see how actors and ads show how kids should be and the act accordingly

[@horsepowermultimedia]

Questions on modern parenting? 1. Should parents start putting adblockers on kids' phones? 2. Should parents not give kids devices until they become adolescents? 3. Should parents limit time on television for both their kids & themselves? 4. Should parents stop spoiling kids so much?

[@dr.emilschaffhausen4683]

Yes, yes, yes and yes.

[@SpreadieGirthy]

What's worse is that children don't know the difference between ads and movies or programs they watch.

[@Spongi_124]

Ok so, theres one issue I have, and i'm gonna describe it with this question: Since when did movies or videogames advertise something? If it really was advertising, it would have been marketed, but that is just a reference. Like do you expect me to play Mario kart 8 and when I see the mercedes car, I go "OMG I LOVE IT, MOM BUY ME A REAL MERCEDES" kids are not that dumb, every other point with apps, or tv are fine, but I think the hole TV and Videogame was only added to get more points on this topic.

[@richmondkevin12]

i wrote a paper on advertising and advertising to children was a part of my paper, i wish i stumbled on this video when i was writing my paper, i would have referenced it.

[@eleanorforman7321]

You didn't mention letting your kids only watch noncommercial TV, only 2 hours max. a day, or getting rid of the TV entirely, in favor of radio and READING!-although the ads on computer screens would still remain.

[@melaniay5521]

Noncommercial TV? Never heard of that. Putting time on time spend behind screens is good idea. They can heard ads on radio too. When they heard it they will connect with what they saw on TV. Reading is also good idea but we need to read them since they are little.

[@beccazhang6335]

Good. This helped me because l was gonna do a speech about it.

[@louwynan9274]

me too!

[@junnie7849]

Instead of speech I’m doing an essay about it lol

[@kristsriekstins7370]

@@junnie7849 same man haha

[@dhanashree1238]

I am going to do a speech about it too!! god, this video helped me a lot. how did your speech go?!

[@DazmonW]

We are consumers!...

[@angelawildman122]

Get this - I’m a toy collector who’s actually conscious of her environmental and social impact. I’ve banned all plastic from my collection, most of my stuff has a Nature theme, and I’m trying to seek out sustainable, fair trade, local and used stuff! Hope to de-capitalize toy collecting and instead bring a primal, wolfish touch to it. Really wish that kids could enjoy their toys this way, as could adults who collect toys! Also for my fun cereal I eat healthy and organic cocoa cereal with a lot less sweetener than average.

[@reesan12]

Keep it up! ❤ There should be more people like you in the world (I'm trying too)

[@darylmckay]

Some great wisdom, thanks The Story of Stuff!

[@myvideos9811]

10:09 09/04/2020 Let our kids shape their new world get them involved ask them what they would like. you will be so surprised. If you are a child of 12 or under, be the envy of all your friends , and get noticed. The girls will be good at this. start a protest and a ban on all adverts. You will become very clever and likeable. and to all the boys , you have to be very very strong to do this. come on lad's let the world know just how strong you are. you will find it so easy. People will stop you in the street they will want to say hello and shake your hand. shops will give you free sweets you will be given all the latest games and a console. The girls will get free cloths and make up, all free,. Malc UK

[@calinechouman3897]

Your making me feel like I'm watching on a toaster and not a screen right now

[@MrBignick88]

certain kinds of advertising to kids should be allowed if the product being advertised has a positive impact through its use for example a bike can get kids outside exercising

[@reesan12]

There are many channels like 123 go...loads of them on KZbin (no offense) that really rewire kids brains -- like seriously, for example if your kid eats sand, these channels give you tutorials on how to make edible sand for them to eat, instead of telling them not to eat it. These channels have the opportunity to teach kids better things instead. The same goes to their 100 layer challenges, and so on Because of this, kids become spoiled, stupid (lose their common sense), bratty, and bored easily

[@reesan12]

I'm sorry if this offended anyone but seriously, this has to change

[@thomasallen8484]

If i see an add fro chicken nuggest i dont but a load of them and everyine knows that money doesnt buy happiness.We dont wan our lives to revolve around school we have a life believe it ot not

[@aramisjenkin6385]

Idk if you know what the definition of materialistic means, but a materialistic child DOES THINK that money can buy them happiness because as a child, IT DOES, but as an adult, we learn that it doesn’t.

[@cadenthetalkshowhost4357]

A lot of kids just ignored them

[@thomasangaly4814]

this is an add about banning ads????

[@angelawildman122]

How do you feel about the toy collecting hobby? I think it can be addictive and pure materialism but it doesn’t have to be.

[@parentingbeyondbehaviours6382]

You are so right

[@jellydoggohascomeforyourso2760]

Moral of the story ads are bad so get rid of them the end. Amen 🙏 Plot Twist: The 95 dislikes are ppl who advertise alot of ppl so they want more to dislike

[@smalltimer666]

How will you enforce blind advertisers like facefook and youfeud to not show advertisements to children? You can't. The solution is to ban advertising by private companies completely.

[@Alexa-xl1gi]

I think they're trying to make this deeper than it is.

[@dr.emilschaffhausen4683]

Nope. Its far worse than they even believe. Social media is turning kids into monsters.

[@thenaturekid3739]

why are black and hispanic kids exposed to more ads

[@TheChickenRiceBowl]

Thank you for uploading actually good content. 👏

[@KyloThomas304]

To be fair, I can still see the hype from advertising ingrained in adults....look at a new zelda or mario game, people will go wild, even when recent games have not innovated much from previous instalments. Children can be effected too when they come from low income families, and simply cant afford luxuries

[@briannecompanioni8462]

can someone make a summary abt this bs im too lazy to do my homework

[@poojamendiratta8407]

As a kid, I agree

[@yeetusboy473]

who ells was shown this by someone ells

[@calinechouman3897]

Else*

[@noeditbookreviews]

I would say we should destroy child advertising but it's already destroyed us.

[@jonasakula4279]

Beautiful video

[@observethebreath6273]

Great video, thank you

[@derpydashdjblazekin]

just because you take the ads off their screens doesn't mean they won't see millions of ads on the streets when they are out with their parents i don't support this and say let media freedom ring then maybe saturday morning cartoons can return

[@Isaac_a_07]

i dont understand, you say there will still be ads on the street. so we cant change everything at once so why bother changing anything? is that how things get done? and whats so great about being bombarded with ads?

[@minumansoor-mckee5423]

school?

[@ansleyh3179]

yep

[@avni868]

yeah lol

[@ganeshshetty6494]

The baby in thumbnail looked same as my brother please anyone tell who is he or just tell something if anyone knew him

[@MitchellSnyder9]

Check out TechnoTutor to support the kids to be smart and discern which advertisements are BS

[@jasonbrown0620]

That's an added benefit of cutting the cord. Netflix and Amazon Prime don't have commercials.

[@jorgerivadeneyraguivin5137]

Movies contains commercials , a Lot of them.

[@brucolerba]

Great piece

[@d4comreal]

tell that to hero wars, and they're gonna advertise more

[@MSGOODPUSS]

good

[@MSGOODPUSS]

job

[@SlimBum]

ppl wacthin dis from ANS school ⬇⬇⬇

[@engagedassociates7102]

Yes - you missed a whole lot here: kids are not materialistic and their brains are not "re-wired" to want more. They simply engage with characters and situations they want to be more like or a part of. Noble cause here but do it justice by at least getting the psychology right.

[@TriPham-yo7we]

Joine tv industry with smartphone save life because big screen tv had too much power and could down plane or define human destiny

[@turtelbro1123]

Mayeby copa is a good thing... Nah scrue the children

[@rishabhb4800]

Good video

[@umesh4040]

What is the kind of software "The Story of Stuff Project" uses in all their animation? I would like to use it as well. Where can one get it?

[@MantaKizaemonFTW]

I just hate the Wii U ad because Nintendo is so much better than that

[@lwgg742]

Advertising rewires kids' brains? What about adults!!

[@lwgg742]

@Vartika Bhagat Exactly! I was sarcastic ;)

[@Isaac_a_07]

It applies to everyone.

[@AdlinLing]

That's scary.

[@melaniay5521]

I know but we are also like them when they see something that we think we need. One woman payed vacuum cleaner set (carpet,floor, windows,...) for 7000$ and after a few months buy new one because this was too heavy and had too much stuff.

[@mini294]

his head looks like a tater tot

[@MaXThReAT]

Is this video an ad???

[@melaniay5521]

I didn't see it as an add. I see it as an educative video.

[@junnie7849]

@@melaniay5521 they advertised the ccfc(3:43) so they did have an ad in this video lol

[@junnie7849]

​@@melaniay5521 i just reread your comment so- sorry?

[@williamcoates2007]

Oh lol I saw this at st. Pats

[@ahyaancuh]

omd my guy

[@antonvonhunerbein7871]

I agree that this needs to be looked at i could not find the references to the article mentioned by josh. I would love to see the science on this. because asking a very biased source for the facts seems major sketchy. I think we need to look at this further

[@StoryofStuff]

Hi Anton, that number comes from a poll conducted by an organization called New Dream. You can learn more here: newdream.org/resources/poll-2014

[@juluke8385]

I have a "server" in Minecraft on switch and if you friend or be friend i'll sign you up

[@parentingbeyondbehaviours6382]

Shopper of the future wow so true 👍

[@danialnoga797]

my pizza

[@artzreal]

there's also other type of "bad advise" ads that are more targeted to white people than black people, but you had to bring race into this

[@Priyadarshi-brothers]

Ok

[@yesbalabharathi]

wow... thanks The Story of Stuff!

[@kosieche_08]

HI HI HI

[@ok-lp1ko]

kids

[@jojojorisjhjosef]

If you're going to hide your kids form advertisements they won't know how to deal with them when they're adults.

[@acmulhern]

jojojorisjhjosef I disagree. I think some things are easier to deal with when you have a more grown-up brain. First teach them the right values, then expose them to ads (which they will be, even if you try to avoid it) and at that moment explain to them what it is. If you try to explain ads to a 3 year old you won't achieve anything at all.

[@thethegreenmachine]

A long term study would be useful. I wonder if there are any.

[@skirtgospinny]

Seems a little out of touch considering kids are fully on the internet now (thanks school closings!) where the most violent dehumanizing p0 rnography is 2 clicks away or they can stumble upon it on every social media app. Advertisements are the least of our worries.

[@AlGuien82]

Jarhead?

[@jarrodwhitley]

This is why that channel where a child reviews toys is absolutely disgusting. Those parents are shaping their son into a materialistic vacuum whose goal is to obtain everything his heart desires and meanwhile the children watching the videos thing that their path to happiness is by owning everything their heart desires.

[@TheBeast1911]

Money is important but why dont they show kids how to invest for they dont have to work. O well then who would work, a system set up to create slaves with out them knowing.

[@Edzhjus]

They should watch Captain Planet, Tom & Jerry, etc. instead of $€£craft propoganda.

[@funkymunky]

Wishful thinking...

[@microwavegames1]

stop minecraft block

[@GeorgWilde]

Yeeey! Replace harmless commercials with our political propaganda hostile to individualism. What could go wrong?

[@aijablumfelds131]

DISGUSTING ADVERTISEMENTS RUIN EVERYTHING

[@freemangle4]

M

[@thetreasurechest6728]

Why the long face haha... Im sorry

[@hugoboss8967]

Coucou 🤡

[@thomasallen8484]

Stop putting the blame on kids when thye dont know any better and you generation make ythe adds

[@TT-or8rz]

its so annoying

[@rexremedy1733]

While you claim that advertising to kids is bad, which it definitely is, you also weave in subconscious ads to kids into your video. How? By implying certain values and behaviours are factually wholesome, when they aren’t. Or it needs at least differentiation and discussion. And then you make the video and advertise for your ideologically influenced campaign. Again: I am against Ads for kids as well. But not because it makes kids behaviour less environmentally friendly as you claim. But because it’s unethical to target the subconscious of those who have no defences against such influences. In particular, I suspect, that you want to use your project and even this ad, to influence people and especially children for your neo communistic and eco dictatorial political agenda. And that’s unethical. Maybe neo communism and eco dictatorship is a good thing. But to weave it in here with a completely different topic in a very subtle way does exactly what you claim to criticise: You advertise to children and teens to mould them into what you deem a better child or grown up. Your methods are as unethical as the methods you rightfully criticised in the first place. Just because you want to mould them into being eco friendly, this doesn’t mean that it is better than to mould them into good little consumers. Again: Your goal may be righteous. At least you may see it that way. But to use the same methods as those you criticise, isn’t. It makes me really sad, that there is really no wholesome space left, where there are no attempts to make the viewer a pawn in favour of some kind of hidden agenda. Just be open. Let people decide for themselves. Be transparent. They may thank it by trusting you and even supporting you. Just stay clear of attempts of manipulation. People will thank you for it. And your project will thrive! I speak out of sincerity because I want to help you. And I will reciprocate, if you would do the same... Please, don’t assume that people won’t notice your attempts at manipulation. They do. And it hurts your project. It really does.

[@jerrymcintire7902]

Really?!? Advocating for less pollution/cleaner air and water is eco-dictatorship??? We all need it, especially the generations to come.

[@Zachary-love-que]

This is just so fake

[@ok-lp1ko]

good