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Ethicality of advertisements

Doesn’t advertising amount to inherent unethicality? How can one sell oneself for endorsing a product? When/ How can advertising become ethical?

Comments

  • The purpose of advertisement is to inform prospective buyer about the product. Inherently There is nothing unethical in advertising your own product as the end result is benefit of both buyer and seller. It ensures greater goods for greater number of people - Utilitarianism. However in following cases advertisement can become unethical.
    1. False content- Providing misleading information about the product to attract more buyers.
    2. Advertiser has Intention of duping the customer.
    3. Hiding the inconvenient facts from customer and highlighting only favourable information.
  • Take example of advertisement of government schemes. It ensures that more needy people get informed about scheme details. However unethicality arises when such advertisement is made with political motives to attract vote bank or false scheme achievement details are mentioned in the ad or only partial details of scheme are highlighted through ad by hiding some facts, terms & conditions.
  • edited March 2018
    Ethics in advertisements? See Indian express and The Hindu becoming Communist Party of China's mouthpiece in these articles by Sudheendra Kulkarni. Either it is blatant shamelessness on writer's part or he thinks people are stupid to not see the motivation behind these articles:

    http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/china-communist-party-why-xi-jinping-is-no-emperor-5083324/

    http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/its-time-to-reimagine-south-asia/article22936425.ece

    I would understand the wisdom to give space to such views if these articles were penned by the Ambassador of China or some official of theirs. But hiding behind civil society opinion and more so of the leading newspapers giving in to the bait is surprising. And how do people like Sudheendra Kulkarni live comfirtably after selling out their souls to foreign interests?
  • I agree with govt schemes and the part of hiding information.

    But how can I not say Ranveer Singh advertising for Thums Up charged is not ethical? It is proven fact that these aerated drinks harm people, due to high sugar content and caffeine. Also celebrities like him, with their health consciousness will not have high sugar intake. Then, how can he ask others to take it?

    How can you vouch for a product you don’t use? For e.g., if I don’t write forum test series but say it is awesome, it is unethical on my part as I am influencing others decisions. More so, when I am paid to say the tests are great. Right? Doesn’t it amount to selling my soul?
  • edited March 2018
    I agree with govt schemes and the part of hiding information.

    But how can I not say Ranveer Singh advertising for Thums Up charged is not ethical? It is proven fact that these aerated drinks harm people, due to high sugar content and caffeine. Also celebrities like him, with their health consciousness will not have high sugar intake. Then, how can he ask others to take it?

    How can you vouch for a product you don’t use? For e.g., if I don’t write forum test series but say it is awesome, it is unethical on my part as I am influencing others decisions. More so, when I am paid to say the tests are great. Right? Doesn’t it amount to selling my soul?
    It will be unethical for a doctor or someone involved in health related initiatives or philanthropy to advertise for unhealthy products. Because people will be influenced by their expected expertise on the matter. But if you buy castrol engine oil because Sachin does the advertisement of it, then you as a buyer bought into a wrong 'halo' influence. Sachin is known for his cricket not for any expertise in engine oils or cold or hard drinks. Similarly Ranveer Singh is an actor and actually that should give you all reasons to not trust him, for he known to inact something which is not real. He has made a career out of it.
  • Exactly. If I am an unaware buyer, and a fan of Sachin, is it not morally wrong on part of Sachin to advertise a product he doesn’t have expertise on?
  • Exactly. If I am an unaware buyer, and a fan of Sachin, is it not morally wrong on part of Sachin to advertise a product he doesn’t have expertise on?
    No, he has influence and that' what he is selling. The idea behind any advertisement is to make the product noticeable. A well known face draws your attention. Sachin is happy for he could monetise his influence. Company is happy as it was able to get the market reach. Customer may or may not be happy for many reasons. You should take responsibility for your decisions, and not outsource your judgement to a non-expert.
  • You have raised a valid point. The ambassadors are meant to introduce the product. But if the buyer buys a costly product say worth 50000 just due to the influence and it may not be worth the price, who is responsible? Whom can we blame?
  • Advertsiment involves acting. There is a proper scene, story or background created. When Sachin says " boost is the secret of my energy" - This is unethical.
    The love towards a person by innocent masses is being exploited by companies. So this is unethical.

    The companies should also clearly reveal the price that they have paid the models/actors for its promotion.
    And consumer awareness must be promoted by government.
  • Yes. This is a new dimension. There is need for complete transparency in the advertisement, right from the complete product details to the benefit to the model.
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