4.1.0.1 Advertising and Media: The Mind-Bend

Now that you understand the tools, or elements, of advertising, focus your attention on how media uses those tools to manipulate you.


A created text can influence our thinking, our investigation of truth, and how we make decisions. The purpose of an ad, or created text, is to sell, sell, sell ?" whether that is a product, message, service, or lifestyle.


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Consumers have difficulty deciding what is accurate about a product because of the way media use language, layout, camera angles, etc. to convey information. Often, a consumer makes connections to lively music, appealing settings, and good-looking people in ads rather than to the product. In thirty seconds or less, without time to analyze details before another ad comes your way, you have been manipulated to think positively about a product.

Awareness of manipulative tactics in various types of ads may help you uncover the truth.

 

 


©Todd Gipstein/National Geographic Creative