Poll for Parents

Former_MSE_Andrea

Poll started 1 Feb 2005. Poll for parents. Childrens' TV Channels are increasingly including secured debt adverts. MoneySavingExpert.com is due to launch a campaign against this soon. The following poll is to help build up the information. Please answer, has your child:

a. Watched the ads and been unaffected?
b. Discussed the adverts with you?
c. Started repeating any of the slogans?
d. Suggested you should take out financing of this type?
e. Never seen the ads?
f. I don't have children
g. We won't let our children watch commercial TV to avoid this

Vote here or click reply to discuss

Glad

My children watch the debt adverts and say

"people would be better off visiting Martin's site"

identitymismatch

I don't have a TV in the first place.
If I did, I wouldn't want my daughter watching TV (TV for under-twos can lead to behavioural problems).
If she did watch TV I certainly wouldn't want her watching commercial TV, full stop.

JayS_3

I use these types of ads to open the subject of debt, loans, interest rates, credit cards etc etc with my two sons. I've done it at their level of understanding for several years now (since Carol Volderman started her ads) and think I've taught them well (or is that brain washed).

The proof will be in the pudding, when they leave home and make their own way in life....or come back after univ, with large debts....ugh.

Still hopefully, they will have learnt to play the game well.

Best wishes to all
Jay

marion1972

I agree with JayS. I was shocked when I first heard my 3 year old daughter telling me that "if you have a problem with your bank you should call 08...". However I now tell her what it is about and tell her that it is better to save for what you want. When she starts to grow out of the programmes on NickJr like Dora the Explorer etc I'm going to get rid of Sky and get CBBC and CBeebies on freeview instead to avoid the adverts, but make the best out of the situation at the moment

allison.mcguinness@btopen

It came home to me recently, how these adverts get to children. We were flying off on holiday and my 7 year old son was asked what he would do if there was a problem with the plane as there are no parachutes. quick as a flash he replied " Well Norton Finance could offer you a safety net!"

Liamaiden

This is my first post so here goes. I've noticed that there are an awful lot of ads for loans etc. from about 2ish onwards. Hubby does shift work and I finish work just before 3pm and the amount of adverts to do with money lending is over the top. Luckily my boys don't watch TV that much or if they do, it's the cartoon network, but at that time of day, showing those sorts of adverts is uncalled for.
I'm glad something is being done about it, it doesn't hurt to try.
Liamaiden

SneakySnake

I am curious,

I notice that there is mention of this site running a campaign against the aforementioned adverts, however can someone explain what the campaign is against.

I assume what the companies offer is legal.
I can see targeting the wrong adverts at young children is wrong but financial products surely don't fall into this category my 2 year old is not going to nag daddy for a secured loan.
So what is the gripe?

I am all for campaigning but can't we choose something more worthy to rid ourselves of, how about the snivelling personal injury claims industry the worthless parasites.

Regards
Sneaky

kidtechnical

Hi, I answered the poll "avoid commercial tv to avoid this" but the real answer is "we avoid commercial tv to avoid ALL commercials". I imagine if these ads are influencing kids when we won't really know about it till the current generation are up & about, so to speak, another 20 yrs I imagine. Really you'd need to use another well established advert that has been proven to influence childrens choices (advertisments for toys, junk food, follow on milk). So far as repeating what's said in the ad goes, that's the nature of advertising and it applies to all adverts, that's the point of them, jingles, slogans, all meant to make their ad memorable. I grew up singing 'they're tasty, tasty, very, very, tasty, they're very tasty' but I couldn't for the life of me tell you what it advertises, maybe someone here could tell me what it advertised and I'll suddenly realise why I have 2000 unopened boxes of Alpen in my larder! No but seriously, I think that as Snakesneak said there are more valient causes to go after, Bacardi Breezer ads, follow on milk ads, junk food ads (esp the ones aimed at children, you know the ones that only show the toy, no food!), ads for dolls that showing little girls bottlefeeding.

kidtechnical

FUMOP

kidtechnical wrote:

seriously, I think that as Snakesneak said ...

Sorry Sneakysnake!

jellyhead

okay fair enough there might be other ads we'd like to go gunning for, but the debt ads are teaching children that they can be completely irresponsible and spend more than they earn then when they decide they want a new car or a holiday there's someone there to offer them money. they're not necessary, not on kids channels. i wouldn't mind if the ads were only on between programmes, but they're in the middle. in the short term you may not think these ads will have much impact on small children but think long term - what messages are they being bombarded with? we have enough of a debt problem as it is, lots of adults in britain seem unable to budget or control their spending, it will get worse if our children are taught from the cradle that 'we're waiting to say yes whatever your circumstances'. banning TV completely isn't really the way i'd like to go, i'd like to be able to watch TV with children, watch a programme then switch off - without the irresponsible ads in the middle!