We live in an era where mobile phones, televisions, and laptops have a huge impact, as children grow up surrounded by these devices only. As much as it is important to keep an eye on what children watch, it also matters that our industry be cautious of certain things.
What made me think about and write this blog today?
I recently watched a Club Mahindra advertisement wherein two students interact about their summer holidays. One mentions that he visited Nani Ke Ghar (the grandmother’s house) as usual, whereas the other mentions that he visited Himachal Pradesh, Goa, and other places too. After this, the first child says to the other, tere papa hi acche hain (your father is only good). The advertisement shows their fathers too, who basically advertise the Club Mahindra membership.
Now, many will say nothing is bad in this, but I feel there is. Such advertisements (ads) create a feeling of comparison amongst children. No matter how hard the parents try, this feeling rises in children once they go to school.
One of the reasons children are detaching from their parents is because of such ads. I, myself, have experienced my cousins arguing with their parents about expensive things their friends have and they don’t. I have literally witnessed them saying, Ki apne kiya hi kya hai (what have you done? In my personal opinion, parents go beyond their limits for their children, and such comparisons are really not worth it.
Media is an important part of life, especially broadcast media and internet media. The content watched is directly proportional to the behaviour of the children. What are we talking about, kids? Don’t we elders also get influenced sometimes by some memes and posts on social media handles? I don’t know about others, but I do.
It is really important for society to consider such aspects that directly influence the behaviour of children, as precaution is better than cure.