When people watch such documentaries that expose the intense persuasion campaigns and connect them to the entertainment industry, they feel used, they feel like they cannot even trust the shows that they like. Probably each time they turn on the TV they wonder if the program they are watching is based on solid facts or it is just a manipulation technique.
In my opinion, marketers abuse of the media environment by sending so many advertising messages. I would prefer to see a traditional ad, printed, televised, or on the radio, rather than seeing hidden messages, hidden ads, or product placement. Whenever I discover product placements in the programs I watch, I feel like someone is trying to use me, or to trick me. Sometimes, I even develop aversion towards the respective products.
In my opinion, the Persuaders documentary is very useful. The program should be watched by any consumer. This way, individuals will be able to guard themselves against these persuasion techniques, and decide themselves what products to buy, with no external influence.
However, the documentary also reveals the fact that even if consumers become somehow immune to certain advertising techniques in time, marketers will develop new persuasion methods. In other words, even if the documentary...
Once consumers get used to being persuaded, influenced towards a course of action, they might become dependent on this influence.
These marketing strategies do not influence the buying behavior only. This leads to a series of other changes that one may not even be aware of. The entire lifestyle of a person can be influenced.
In my opinion, the legislative environment should not be so permissive with these marketing campaigns that significantly influence human behavior. If the lawmakers would pay more attention to this field, such marketing strategies would have to employ more traditional techniques. In some cases, such techniques work better, and they are also less expensive. Consumers probably respond better to traditional marketing campaigns.
Works Cited
1. The Persuaders (2004). Frontline. PBS. Retrieved November 4, 2008 at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/persuaders/view/#rest.
