Question

How does advertising become unethical? What steps must each part of the advertising "communication" process take to ensure that it remains ethical?

Answer 1

Solution:

How does advertising become unethical?

Ethics is a branch of philosophy which seeks to address questions about morality; that is, about concepts such as good and bad, right and wrong, justice, and virtue.

There is an old adage that everybody hates advertising until they have something to sell.

No matter what people think about advertising, everybody thinks about it. How can you not? Nearly everything we see, hear, touch or eat has a logo on it. Even our thoughts are branded. Advertising has been called an art form, a parasite, freedom of speech, propaganda, healthy capitalism, a necessary evil, and what makes the world go round.

Example: An advertisement of Nestle India Ltd (Maggie healthy soup) claimed that “Happy Heart” “Healthy Soup”. The claim created an impression that consumption of Maggie soup leads to better heart and health, while on testing by independent agency, it has been found that it contains high levels of salt which releases sodium into body which in turn, causes hypertension and high blood pressure instead of good heart and health. Therefore, on complaint, ASCI declared the advertisement as case of misleading by implication and ambiguity. Therefore, Nestle India Ltd assured ASCI to modify its advertisements.

General mistrust of advertising among consumers. Many do not perceive ads as honest or believable General mistrust of advertising among consumers. Many do not perceive ads as honest or believable Abuses involving sales promotions such as contests, sweepstakes, premium offers Abuses involving sales promotions such as contests, sweepstakes, premium offers Unethical and/or deceptive practices involving mail order, telemarketing and other forms of direct marketing Unethical and/or deceptive practices involving mail order, telemarketing and other forms of direct marketing Internet scams and abuses Internet scams and abuses