Tobacco products are something that have always been a part of history and culture all over the world. As well as being one of the most financially and economically dominant industries in the world, the tobacco business also once had a firm grip on the advertisement industry. It was once a very common sight to see tobacco advertisements on the television and even on billboards as you drive down the motorways. Such celebrity legends as Laurel and Hardy were common faces of tobacco advertisements. The late 1990’s and 2000’s however saw a dismal end to the industry’s clutch on advertising until the news broke on August 26th, 2010, that tobacco company’s were again attempting to make a move to appeal their products to young people via the Internet.
Tobacco companies themselves have denied their role in the advertising campaigns, but research apparently states otherwise though as it stands, there is currently no 100% given evidence that tobacco companies have any role in the advertising at all. Social networking websites such as YouTube however have proved to be a viable asset when it comes to advertising campaigns. It has seen the rise in movie popularity and music album popularity. It has also seen the rise to superstardom of such celebrity names as Jeffree Star, Tila Tequila and Justin Bieber. Should the line be drawn however when it comes to launching yet another rise in the popularity and growth of smoking in the next generation of children?
It is no secret that smoking truly is a dangerous habit. It is impossible to buy a carton of cigarettes or a pack of cigars nowadays that does not feature the “smoking kills” logo, often accompanied by a truly gruesome and grizzly image that ranges from dead babies to cancerous lungs. However, the dangers of smoking are obvious, yet people still smoke anyway. It is a given choice for people whether they want to smoke or not. The tobacco industry is currently under fire for their attempts at online advertising, but as long as they feature the “smoking kills” style warnings throughout their advertisement, similar to alcohol advertisements, is it really such a bad thing at all?
While targeting children and young people is certainly a very deceitful business technique, it is one that industries will often use as young people are the adults of the next generation. It is up to that business to market their products to young people for the sake of company survival. Sadly, products such as tobacco also fall under this category. However, it is up to the parents of these young people to look after their children and educate them about the dangers when it comes to smoking. It is certainly a dangerous habit that can kill you and therefore, it is every parent’s duty to ensure their children know of the dangers in regards to smoking, especially when advertisements promoting it currently dominate our Social Networks.
Today’s society is driven by a “babying” atmosphere. It is a common sight to see people in the news sued each and every day for reasons that thirty years ago would not have even made the headlines. It seems nowadays, the world and the advertisement industry alike is driven by a “Big Brother” society that will slap you on the back of the hand and take all your money if you so much as make a negative comment in regards to something, simply because people claim to be offended. The tobacco industry is a perfect example of this society today; if the alcohol industry is still allowed to advertise, then surely, the tobacco industry should be too.
Smoking is indeed a deadly habit and one that can kill you if you smoke excessively. It is also a very expensive habit that can drain your purse strings and your wallet if you let it, but it is every smoker’s right to smoke if they want to smoke. The controversial clips feature online advertisement and promotions for such cigarette brands as Marlboro, L&M, Benson & Hedges, Winston and Mid Seven and can be found on YouTube. It is safe to say that there will be uproar in regards to the online smoking marketing, but in a society like the one we live in, it is to be expected. The fact of the matter stands, the tobacco industry will also be one of the world’s most dominant as long as smoking is legal, and even if it wasn’t, it would still somehow find a way to survive. It is up to the parents to educate their children about smoking, and it is up to those promoting tobacco products to ensure that the proper warnings are given while advertising them, only then can society find common ground in regards to both.