The Social Implications of Advertising

Find advertising that satisfies the following criteria. Then write a two paragraph synopsis of each ad:

 1. Provide two examples of puffery. Detail why the ad displays the concept of puffery and is not deceptive. Be detailed in your response.

 2. Find examples of Ads that stereotypes a person or group. Find one ad that portrays a positive stereotype and an one ad that portrays a negative stereotype. Analyze the stereotype in detail.

3. Find two (2) ads that attempt to deceive, or in your opinion represent deceptive advertising. Explain the deception and how the consumer might her adversely affected.  

Remember to point out the stereotype, deception or puffery, then your reaction to each concept. Your reaction or analysis should be a minimum of two to three paragraphs per ad. Make sure you attach a copy of the ad that you are analyzing.

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1. Provide two examples of puffery:

• Ad 1: A car commercial that claims “the smoothest ride of any car on the road.” This ad displays the concept of puffery, as the claim is subjective and cannot be proven or disproven. The ad is not deceptive, as the language used is not specific and does not make any false claims about the car’s capabilities.

• Ad 2: A shampoo commercial that claims “guaranteed to make your hair 10 times stronger in one week.” This ad also displays the concept of puffery, as the claim is subjective and cannot be proven or disproven. The ad is not deceptive, as the language used is not specific and does not make any false claims about the shampoo’s capabilities.

2. Find examples of Ads that stereotypes a person or group:

• Ad 1: A car commercial that features a young, successful businessman driving the car. This ad portrays a positive stereotype of success and ambition. The ad may appeal to people who aspire to success and want to be associated with the image of the successful businessman, but it can also reinforce the stereotype that success is only for a certain type of person.

• Ad 2: A cleaning product commercial that features a woman cleaning the house. This ad portray a negative stereotype of women being responsible for cleaning and maintaining the house. The ad may appeal to people who believe that is the woman’s role in the household, but it can also reinforce the stereotype that women are responsible for domestic tasks.

3. Find two (2) ads that attempt to deceive, or in your opinion represent deceptive advertising:

• Ad 1: A weight loss supplement commercial that claims “lose 20 pounds in 2 weeks.” This ad attempts to deceive the consumer by making false and unrealistic claims about the product’s capabilities. The deception can be harmful to the consumer, as they may be misled into believing that the product will help them lose weight quickly and easily, when in reality it may not work as advertised.

• Ad 2: A skincare product commercial that uses before and after photos of a person who appears to have used the product and has flawless skin. This ad attempts to deceive the consumer by using manipulated or misleading before and after photos to make the product appear more effective than it really is. The deception can be harmful to the consumer, as they may be misled into believing that the product will give them the same results as the person in the ad, when in reality it may not work as advertised.

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