IELTS Writing Task 2: Advertising aimed at children

Children today are surrounded by advertisements, on television, online and even inside the games they play. Some people believe that advertising aimed directly at children should be banned altogether. I largely agree with this view, particularly where unhealthy food and expensive toys are concerned.

The main reason for a ban is that young children cannot tell the difference between information and persuasion. They tend to accept what an advert tells them as simply true, because they do not yet understand that its purpose is to sell. This makes them an easy target. Companies selling sugary cereals and fast food take advantage of this by using cartoon characters and free gifts, and the result is that children develop a taste for products that damage their health.

A second argument is the pressure that advertising places on parents. When a child sees the same toy advertised dozens of times, they are likely to ask for it repeatedly, a habit sometimes known as pester power. Families on low incomes may then feel forced to spend money they cannot afford, or face constant arguments at home.

Admittedly, a complete ban would be difficult to enforce, especially on the internet, where adverts cross national borders. It could also be argued that parents, not governments, should decide what their children watch. However, parents cannot supervise every minute of screen time, and I think the law should support them instead of leaving them to compete with professional marketers.

In conclusion, I agree that advertising targeted at children should be banned, or at least strictly limited, because children are too young to judge it critically and families bear the cost. Protecting children should take priority over commercial interests.