Consuming Kids: The Commercialization of Childhood (Trailer)

COMING THIS SUMMER FROM THE MEDIA EDUCATION FOUNDATION

http://www.mediaed.org

With virtually no government or public outcry, the multi-billion dollar youth marketing industry has been able to use the latest advances in psychology, anthropology, and neuroscience to transform American children into one of the most powerful and profitable consumer demographics in the world. American kids now influence an estimated $700 billion in annual spending, targeted virtually from birth with a relentless bombardment of sophisticated commercial appeals designed to sell everything from Hollywood merchandise and junk foods to iPods, cell phones, the family car and vacations. The result is that childhood itself has been commercialized. Drawing on the insights of experts, industry insiders, and children themselves, Consuming Kids traces the evolution and impact of this disturbing and unprecedented phenomenon, exposing the youth marketing industry's controversial tactics and exploring the effect of hyper-consumerism on the actual lived experience of children.

Featuring:
Enola Aird
Dr. Michael Brody
Nancy Carlsson-Paige
Josh Golin
Diane Levin
Susan Linn
Dr. Alvin Poussaint
Dr. Michael Rich
Juliet Schor
and other prominent children's advocates

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• MEF
• consumerism
• children
• high
• school
• musical

[doula2010]

As a child we had no money, T.V. or phone while I was a teenager. We took buses,

and got around on bicycles &walking. This was in the 60's. I don't remember ever

having other kids look down on me because I wore the same 3 outfits all the time.

The world has grown, everyday life is so expensive, and the internet has changed

everything in good&bad ways. Parents need to be properly educated themselves

or they will never educate their kids about diet,GMO foods,and the words"Don't need it."

[Thelaofkazi]

@crewlla

Yes, let's ignore all of the findings of psychology, anthropology, biology and sociology and instead simplify everything and blame it on the parents, who are just as much of victims of society as their children.

[SteveCarras]

1:30 nice us of the Henry Mancini "Pink Panther" till 2:00, guys.

[80sOGRE]

@doula2010 it was still like that for kids in the late 70s, Star wars opened the flood gates in regard to merchandise and it just happened to coincide with the video arcade game boom. nothing has been the same since then.

[MrTsBastardChild]

@Colthrone lol

[samiam1995]

@Colthrone How do you explain Europe then? 52% of people in Europe do not believe in god, they don't have a culture almost entirely based on consumerism.

[inferno0020]

American liberals keep blaming "consumerism", like Conservatives blaming liberals, but let's ask a very honest question: will we want to replace the merchant-nanny with "educated" people (who were humiliated by both Liberal and Conservatives)? Will they want their children to be educated well at school? The answer is: NO.

Blaming game is over; i don't want to hear anyone saying "who controlled the people". Instead, ask yourself: are you a part of participants?

[Colthrone]

America wanted God out of its schools and institutions. No 10 commandments in its courts. No preaching at the workplace. No after-school prayers for the young ones. This is it, America. This is what a country without God starts to look like.

[nicodemous52]

When you really stop to consider on the matter…Couldn’t one fairly say that “advertising’s” sole purpose is to cause people to break the 10th commandment?

[cotymcclung]

/watch?v=NEe4lQP7akg

[nathanvanrijn]

@MrVirtualCoder Or maybe the politicians need the corporation to fund their campaign. They don't want it, but they must follow the order of the economy if they want to maintain their position. And the corporations are busy maintaining and expanding their corporation or they will loose their rat race. Politician need their money, corporations need their power... where is the end in this circle? At the moment we've depleted our resources...

[MrVirtualCoder]

You Idiots. This is not a "cultural/society" based issue. It is the GOVERNMENT that allows, and wants this behavior. It is the Politicians that use this as a weapon to control people...