SO, I know I talked about advertisement in my last post but I believe that it can be a serious problem. Especially when watching "The Film Generation" movie that we watched Thursday. I didn't know especially now in this new generation that everything is consumed with advertisement, and that we contribute to it all just by liking a post or watching something on YouTube. It saddens me actually that in this new generation that media uses us as college kids or teenagers as puppets in order to gain self control on their products. Don't get me wrong I understand that advertisement is needed for many company's and they have it to thrive..but in this documentary it showed us that we feed off of advertisement without anyone even knowing.
The one thing that I didn't even know on YouTube is the people that are "YouTube Famous" are apart of advertisement as well. They will sometimes advertise a products like, audible on amazon, hair products, food etc and for them they will get money for it and us we will give in because we believe that these people are just like us and if they like this product we might like it. I believe that this is very strategic and it could get out of hand because little kids just like the little boy in the movie think they could do these ridiculous things and could get so much money off it. Anyways, one media that I sometimes watch is YouTube video's just like any other person on earth and YouTube is defiantly full of advertisement. It gets to the point were us as a viewers get sick of watching the very video, but we have to watch whats next in whatever we're watching. Most products that have been advertised on YouTube has to be the most random things like hair products, car dealerships, and sometimes most advertisements are related to the actual video that the viewer is watching.
However, I feel that this sort of thing CAN get out of hand in regarding the economy because I feel that everyone would think that everyone is looking for a hand out regarding their products or whatever there selling; it could sometimes be annoying to some people. Like for some YouTubers I try not to watch anymore because every single time I try and watch their video there always are pushing or even trying to sell a product on something they don't even care about just to gain a sponsor or even gain money. But what do you guys think is this a good thing or bad thing?? leave a comment!
I really enjoyed this reflection, I also agree with you regarding using teens as puppets to sell their product. and I notice that to be true because I enjoy watching YouTube videos as well. to answer you question I don't feel as if it is a bad thing to help sell some ones product, but most people like you have said, does not even try to product and false advertises and that is not ok.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting that you brought up audible in your post because this was one of the first things I thought of when I began thinking about advertisements. There are plenty of YouTubers that either start or end their videos, like you said, by mentioning things like audible. There's also quite a few videos out there that are sponsored directly by the company that owns the product being discussed/showed in the video. I watch a lot of video game YouTubers, and there are plenty of videos that are sponsored by the devs to be played by a large YouTuber to advertise their game. Sometimes the YouTubers are open about this in the video, but sometimes they just post that it is a sponsored video in the description. I don't necessarily think it's a bad thing, but it's interesting to think that it has gotten to the point where YouTube videos themselves are now being used as advertisements, even though they may not be advertisements like we initially think of.
ReplyDeleteI think it's really interesting that you find advertising to be such a negative thing! I didn't really look at it that way until I read your post. I think you're right to an extent, because we're doing a lot of advertising work for companies without even realizing it, let alone being compensated for it. BUT, while that does suck, I kind of thought of it as a minor problem... like, if I "like" something on Facebook, and someone else sees it, I'm technically advertising for that product or company. But it's not like I'm putting in a lot of my own time and effort to push something, I'm just hitting a button. And then someone else hits the button, and so on and so on. I never really thought of it as this huge, grave problem, but I'm definitely seeing the more negative side effects of it now.
ReplyDeleteGreat post and thread! I think there's a qualitative difference between liking a post on Facebook and making a whole YouTube video about trying the exclusive Cool Ranch Dorito Taco Bell taco. Like Sarah said, "liking" seems relatively harmless next to the YouTube video turned commercial, especially if, as yall point out, the advertising is very subtle or just not acknowledged except in find print in the video description. Is there an ethical element to disclosing YouTube videos as ads?
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