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[MSE Martin]

What is this about?

A raft of childrens' TV channels carry adverts for high-interest loans, aimed at families that find it hard to get cheaper credit. These have created a disgraceful new form of pester power with the children that watch them repeating them parrot-fashion.

The aim of this campaign is to get specialist childrens' TV channels such as Nickelodeon, Boomerang and Jetix and others to agree to stop showing these adverts. By showing such adverts they normalise the idea of these extreme debts and the impression lasts.

The TV channels responsible should immediately stop showing them.

Read more

The campaign is explained in full in Debt: Not In Front of the Children

Sign the petition

Once you've read about the campaign sign the Not In Front of The Children Petition

Discuss

To discuss the campaign click on reply

[xela_17]

Is anyone else having trouble accessing the petition?

[Bendybops19]

Nope it worked for me!

[MSE Martin]

We were having techie problems earlier in the day - but it should be working now

[Cameron]

I dont believe that advertising for credit is wholly a bad thing - I like to think I'm a responsible parent (only time will tell) so when things like this appear I advise my child of the problems of getting into debt, the things it can lead to etc, etc. - Ok I would admit it its not a responsible action of the broadcasting body - but the sooner my child is exposed to the ways of the world the sooner they can they can learn of the minefield.
There not going to lend money to anyone under the age of 18, Ok the desperate parent might apply, but they could easily choose someother company instead - possable a loan shark!!
In the words of a politician - education, education, education!!!!
Its the only way.

[xela_17]

Ah, problems have resolved themseves. All signed now!

[Victors_Bruvver]

The automated response from the petition is working fine with it just acknowledging my "signature".

However, as much as I admire and support this particular campaign I am cynical of the response that Martin and his fellow campaigners will get from either Ofcom, ITV, or the government.

My reasoning is that ITV are just a money making machine where the viewer (customer) comes a very poor second or third when it does its programme planning. In recent years ITV have, so I believe, campaigned successfully to the government watchdog to 1) reduce the hours of religious broadcasting, 2) reduce the number of hours given over to local or regionally made programmes and 3) trying the same thing with children’s programmes IE cutting back on the number of hours they are currently obliged to broadcast.

As said, I am an old cynic, but what is the common denominator here? Religion does not make them money from advertisers and with more and restrictions coming into play regarding what sort of advertising is allowed during children’s programmes.

From where I am sitting ITV are a prime example of what the French and Dutch have said is Anglo Saxon capitalism/consumerism. All they see are our UK companies being more interested in is making pots and pots of money and not worrying about us. Ask yourself, why for years & years we had ITV programmes that started and finished on the published time and now we get programmes that start up to 5 minutes later than schedule and within 6 or so minutes of that start, go for an advertising break. “To be a service to the viewer/customer?” NOT ON YOUR NELLY!!!!!

[Coloco]

It's about time someone took a stand against the behaviour of these non high-street loan companies and well done Martin for starting this.

If it inst bad enough them targeting assumed financial illiterate poor families with shocking rates of interest, now they sneak in their messages in our impressionable children's TV time.

Totally shameful.

[wolfytom]

I agree with the priciple proposed by the webhost. However, I am rather concerned with the idea of forwarding the email to everyone I know! The email advertises the MSE website as well as the petition site.

Doesn't that count as spam?

Tsk tsk.

[Genghis]

If a parent is weak enough to fall for the nagging demands of a child who quotes catchy phrases from the latest usurer advertising on kids tv then I'd question their credibility as a parent..

..pester power is one thing when talking about gadgets/toys from high street stores but when seeking financial advice from an 8 year old child then I'm afraid you're somewhat detached from reality..

Like Cameron says, use it to your advantage and teach children of the implications of borrowing from such lenders in the hope that when they become financially independent they will know and understand the dangers of falling prey to ruthless lenders.

[thaylock]

I have just signed this petition & I urge everyone to do the same, I agree with everything Martin has posted here, especially the statement 'By showing such adverts they normalise the idea of these extreme debts and the impression lasts'. Just look at the society we live in now, look at how it seems young people think it's acceptable & cool to try drugs, get drunk, participate in 'happy slapping',e.t.c. I wonder if this has anything to do with the amount of exposure these things get in the media. The same thing will happen with debt, it will become sociabily acceptable because the masses are doing it, why are the masses doing it, because the media makes it look cool. Truth is, the media give so much exposure to this because they make money out of it, the advertisers make money out of it, & what does Joe Public get, probably a couple of kids who think money grows on trees. Well done Martin for starting this petition.

[DAME]

I think some people are missing the point here. This petition is not about the parents who spend time with their children, talking to them, explaining about real life and things like debt, nutrition, relationships, etc. If there were more parents like that, we wouldn’t have shows on TV like Brat Camp and Nanny 911, where children ‘rule’ the house.

[michaels]

Sorry if this sounds a bit negative but shouldn't we allow grown ups to make their own decisions? If people choose to use these products and indeed be pestered by their kids into using them isn't that their own choice. I don't presume to tell everyone who I see smoking a cigarette / driving with out a seat belt or whatever that although they don't know what is best for them I do and they really should listen to me, so why should I tell them which financial products they can and can't use.

[xela_17]

Surely the point is though, that there are some things which should just not be allowed to advertise on children's channels. I don't know for definite but aren't there other things e.g. alcohol that aren't allowed? Why? Because they aren't suitable to be advertised to children. You're not telling the actual parents not to drink alcohol. Shouldn't these sorts of debt adverts be put in the same category?

[Maria2]

Fair point, and as you say, if grown-ups choose to use these products, who can argue with that? But these aren't grown-ups, they're children.

What's your attitude to money going to be like if you're 18 years old and the only financial knowledge you have is gleaned from credit ads? That if life's getting you down, you can take a holiday on the never-never and everything will be okay? It wouldn't be half as bad if there was decent financial education (for young people especially), but there isn't. This campaign seems to be about helping people to make better financial choices rather than telling them what they can and can't do.

[margaretclare]

What's 'happy slapping', please teacher??

Aunty Margaret

[xela_17]

Originally Posted by margaretclare

What's 'happy slapping', please teacher??

Aunty Margaret

It's when a group of (usually) kids beat up another kid and video it or take pictures on their mobiles. Awful.

[jawa1]

Originally Posted by wolfytom

I agree with the priciple proposed by the webhost. However, I am rather concerned with the idea of forwarding the email to everyone I know! The email advertises the MSE website as well as the petition site.

Doesn't that count as spam?

Tsk tsk.

Just what I thought!....Martin you are asking "Please try and get this e-mail to every UK adult online!"....

Sorry but this is simply not on!

[kidtechnical]

[QUOTE=Victors_Bruvver]
However, as much as I admire and support this particular campaign I am cynical of the response that Martin and his fellow campaigners will get from either Ofcom, ITV, or the government.

I believe ITV got rid of the Crazy Frog because it was driving people nuts (they proudly proclaimed they no longer ran the ad when asked about complaints received about it)... so who knows, maybe they'll pull the plug on these ads. I get your point though, but what will they replace them with? More ads for toys, sweets & junk food? Ban all advertising during childrens TV schedules is what I say... or advertise produce!

[prior446@hotmail.com]

Sorry I can't support your campaign; you obviously have the best of intentions. But: what you propose is censorship. The only people who have the responsibility and the right to control what their children see on teleivision are the parents. They must control access, monitor content, discuss implications of advertising.

For the minority of parents who won't or can't do this a different approach is needed: how about all this energy being directed to them, instead?