DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.

 

Specific Topic: The Ethics of Marketing Unhealthy Food to Children

Research Question: Even though it is generally known that children are not concerned about healthy eating habits, is it ethical to market unhealthy food to children?
What I Found While Researching: The terms involved in the debate are not always defined the same way. This is the main cause of conflict.

Major Arguments:

CHAPTER 2: Defining the Terms

  • The terms “unhealthy,” “child,” “ethics,” and “advertising” are not defined the same way by everyone involved in the debate

  • There is no straight-forward definition for any of these

CHAPTER 3: Ethics Case Studies

  • Happy meal toys have been the cause of a huge debate on the ethics of marketing to children

  • Video games and tablet games entice children by playing games; they are now actively involved in the marketing of food products instead of passively watching ads

CHAPTER 4: Possible Solutions

  • There are some companies who have already made steps towards a more ethical and less controversial marketing campaign including McDonald's and Kraft

  • Practically impossible to put the blame on one person or group
  • Whether companies, parents, or government should be regulating the advertisement of unhealthy food to children is debatable

DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.