Children are the future.

In “Kid Kustomers” the author Erik Schlosser did a very effective job at using facts to drive a very biased argument. Schlosser only touched base on the negative facets of advertising, however he materializes this information in a regurgitated statistical fashion. With Schlosser relying on data and studies, he purposely adheres to the reader’s natural acceptance of credible information, almost persuading the audience into feeling the remorse that’s always present when discussing a child’s welfare.  Schlosser makes advertising a way bigger issue than it really is. If parents are really that concerned for their children’s well being, they can possibly mitigate the issue with a real baby sitter rather than a television. Advertising is how the whole marketing economy works and just because Erik thinks all forms of child advertising is erroneous, doesn’t necessarily leave the corporations at fault. Corporations are only doing what they have always done and that’s advertise and make money.  Ultimately it is up to the parents to teach these children the value of things in life. I grew up with a single mother who wouldn’t buy me the toy I wanted until Christmas or my birthday.  This wasn’t a punishment because she knew that I would have no regards for that toy when 3 months down the road a newer version would be out. The point is she wouldn’t spoil me so I learned to value the things I received. An important thing that Erik Schlosser and his studies failed to consider is that children today are smarter than they’ve ever been. Today more and more kids are becoming highly adept at problem solving, heightening their awareness, and further developing their constantly growing brains through which they have learned from computers, video games, and even the television. It’s a mistake to classify children as unable to defend themselves from the evils of television, just as it is the fault of the parents who let their kiddos watch. Children appear to be an easy prey, but in reality children are more aware and intuitive then most adults. My seven year old cousin knows when I pull a fast one on him and understands more than he’s given credit for. Kids are not stupid, they’re just naïve. They know when they are being tricked. Schlosser’s optimism for future generations is lacking. Rather than relying on potentially insightful one on one interviews with children or their parents, Erik mistakenly digs up all these facts and gives a generalization of “the typical American child”(356). Schlosser’s overgeneralizations lack reason and sound encouragement that’s needed when talking to children. Using advertisement companies as a scapegoat is like counting grains of sand, pointless.

-Scott Shears