TV ads work on kids

By David Pescovitz at 3:58 pm Monday, Apr 3

Stanford University scientists report that the more time children spend watching TV and movies and playing video games containing ads and/or product placement, the more likely they are to want those products. (Shocker.) Back in 1999, the scientists interviewed 827 third graders about their media diets and how often they requested someone buy them products they'd see on the screen. From a press release about the study, published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine:

Overall, children in the study logged more than 22 hours of total screen time per week, including more than 10 hours of TV. They reported making about one request each week for toys and more than one request every two weeks for food or drinks. Children who watched more TV and had more overall screen time requested advertised toys and food or drinks more often than those with less TV and screen time. For every extra hour per day that children watched television at the beginning of the study, they made on average one extra request for an advertised food or drink every six to 13 weeks at the end of the study, seven to 20 weeks later. Likewise, every extra hour of total screen time resulted in approximately one additional request for advertised food or drink every 13 to 24 weeks and one extra request for an advertised toy every 12 to 18 weeks.

Link