The trouble with coming up with a solution to this issue is that we can’t exactly go to every household and make sure each parent is using good parenting skills. Parents need to let children be children. Over the last decade or so, numerous groups, books, even classes have emerged to help parents with developing proper parenting skills. Parents need to become aware of what is happening.
Media Regulation.
Source: flickr
More importantly the focus needs to be on the media- internet, TV, ads, etc. It needs to be regulated. Even if a parent tries to do the right thing, a child is surrounded by all these social aspects that influence their life. Kids younger than 8 have been shown to be largely unable to distinguish between advertising and other content — especially concerning product placement. Advertising targeting children under the age of 8 should be restricted. Restriction should be reinforced so that their is less pressured programming for kids.
Currently very few rules regulate media influence on the public, and especially on children. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable in the U.S. The Federal Trade Commission establishes and enforces laws for marketing products to children. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has basic authority to regulate advertising and marketing practices. Some basic rules limit the amount of commercial material aired during children’s television programming and prohibit hosts of kid shows to appear in commercials, but overall these regulations lack the significant impact needed to save children from adverse effects.
I have several recommendations for this issue:
New regulations that limit corporate influence and protect children should be made and enforced. These regulations should be fair to both sides and fit in accordance with society’s moral obligations and the nation’s legal constraints, but ensure a safer, and better environment for our children to grow and develop.
The FTC should create a task force to focus on targeted advertising aimed at children.
Parents should file a complaint with the FCC or a complaint on targeted advertising with the FTC which would affect a companies marketing strategy- marketing towards children to get to the parents.
Moreover; parents need to make their opinion known. They should write to their local public stations.
It is everyone’s responsibility to challenge policy-making and cultural developments that entice children into growing up too quickly.