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Advertisements have existed since the dawn of the economic era. They are seen as means for producers to provide consumers with information about the goods and services one provides. The producers attempt to practice product differentiation in order to survive in the competitive market of today. Some of these differences may be real,others may just be imagined differences. As many consumers would tell you, there is a vast difference between an Aiddas sport shoes and a Nike sport shoes, despite the fact that both brands of shoe fulfill the sole same purpose: To provide your foot with some degree of protection when you are exercising. What makes these two brands of sport shoes different is the different celebrity endorsement: The difference in the product is but imaginary. It is thus undeniable that producers in order to maximize their profits, have often included falsified information of their products.Although the fast food chain McDonalds has made public announcements that it would try and promote more healthy food in its menus,a new advertising strategy by the creative executives repackages the highly unhealthy 2.15L cup of soft drink under the new name of Hugo. Human beings are cynical in nature, and it is no surprise that some may feel that inaccurate billboards make one weary.

However, one must not fail to overlook the fact that the widespread nature of fake ads actually sharpen one's senses. Individuals that really wish to derive information from the fliers given out by salesmen would be forced to examine the information with much greater detail. The irony behind the abundance of false ads, is the fact that although the ads fail in their main purpose to convey the necessary information to the masses, consumers nowadays have a better idea about the products they are purchasing. The consumer of today now has to look into past the facade painted by the supplier, and really determine the usefulness of a product itself. Moreover, the shopper of today is not the illiterate masses of the past that are simply attracted to the loud and colorful signs outside a shop. The shopper of today has a basic education, many more are pursuing degree and even doctorate courses in universities. He/She is armed with the necessary mental faculties to decide if the product is really as good as it seems. Indeed, how many are falling for scams by advertisements?
Most understand that there is no such thing as a free lunch, and the flier is quickly crunched and sent to the recycling bin.

False ads may even lead to a strengthening of moral character in the immoral world we live in. Companies that engage in this form of *creative* advertising often are met with complaints by irritated customers, the more outspoken ones writing to their newspapers and even expressing their discontent in radio shows. Their acts of dishonesty is aired openly and their reputation suffers. This could cause a resurgence of honesty being injected to advertisements. Which producer would be dense enough to continue to proliferate something that is harming their own interest?

The masses now know of McDonald's plans as this information was exposed by TIME magazine in one of their summer issue.This could not have been a clearer message to advertisers- Stay clean, or the *jaded* masses would expose your scams.

Learn more about this author, Zhong Hao Wan.
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