I was pointed to a blog on tvoParents.com today about online advertising to children. The blog post was written by Matthew J and was called “Child’s Play.” The post discusses how advertisers are marketing to kids early as young as 2 ½. It is really difficult as children at that age can’t really tell the difference between reality and fantasy. The article then goes on to talk about how a lot of online sites blend branded images with content with games and pictures, in an attempt to create brand loyalty. Kids go online and participate in games and surveys and are exposed to products that are cleverly and prominently placed. The article is a good read; check it out using the source link below.

Of course there are a few other things to take into consideration. Marketers also aim to collect information about users so that they can create customer profiles. If they understand the wants and needs of the users they can customize their ads and offer products that appeal to their users. It is inevitable that kids will go online, especially in today’s world. Parents have to be aware of what their child is doing online, and be present to offer guidance. Parents must teach their child from an early age how to discern what is real from what is not online.

Source: http://www.tvo.org/cfmx/tvoorg/tvoparents/index.cfm?page_id=221&action=blog&subaction=viewpost&blog_id=322&post_id=11298