Know-How Exchange : Student Questions

It is regulated-- against untruthful statements by the FTC. A big part of my master's thesis was on this and false enviro statements.

Of course morals are part of advertising. I can think of a family right now in Co that are getting that lesson big time (balloon saga). Make a false statement -- and you put yourself at risk big time.

Dear tshepostan,

Without exception, advertising must be regulated and the regulation must come from a professional or government-administered body that has teeth and the ability to take action.

You don't say where you are, so let's take the examples of the US and my native UK.

Here in the US, advertising is controlled by the FTC.

Read this very carefully. Do not piss the FTC off.

Likewise with the Advertising Standards Authority in the UK.
The ASA is there to ensure that ads are essentially legal, decent, honest, and truthful.

Advertising regulation is in place in most countries to:
protect consumers from false claims; ensure ads are not discriminatory; to ensure price fixing does not go on for the
goods and services on offer, and to protect the moral, physical
and health, social, and mental well being of minors.

In many countries it is illegal to advertise alcohol or tobacco products on television, or on bill boards, or close to schools. In other countries it is illegal to advertise birth control devices, or firearms, or any number of goods, services and products.

You also wanted to know if there's a place for moral consideration in advertising.

In an ideal world? Yes.

In the world we live in? It would be nice, but sadly, one person's morality is another person's immorality and vice versa.

What drives immoral advertising? Greed. Stupidity. Ignorance.
For the most part, none of these things are an excuse but that won't and doesn't alter the fact that they're played out as just that—excuses—again and again. Either that or they're—in some cases, simply ignored, or, in the majority of cases, organizations such as the FTC or the ASA take action.

Concerned? You ought to be. The measure? Anything you would not want your aging aunt or the five year old to see, question, or want to try is probably beyond redemption.

I hope this helps.

Gary Bloomer
Wilmington, DE, USA