Hidden Messages in Ads
Ads have a great impact on our society, and are constantly demanding our
attention everywhere we go. We watch ads on TV, radio, magazines, newspaper, on the
streets, and social media. We as a society let those ads influence our way of thinking,
dressing and what we buy. Ads not only sell products; also, sell the image of beauty,
stereotypes and the women as an object. Ads make us feel that we are not enough as we
are. Ads cause eating disorders because ads make us feel ashamed of our body. Ads also
promote consumerism because ads make us believe that buying stuff will bring us
happiness. Ads are a powerful tool that can manipulate the viewer’s attitude by hidden
messages. Ads create a toxic culture environment that causes public health and
economic problems like violence, sexualization of girls, emotional disorders, and
consumerism.
Ads cause mental health problems as depression, eating disorders, and low self-
esteem. Ads promote the idea that we are not enough beautiful, intelligent, and
confidence as we are; causing mental health problems. Ads cause eating disorders
“Research on the prevalence of eating disorders has suggested that 12% of young
women experience a form of eating disorder” (Verma 98). Ads use super thin and
perfect bodies as the image of beauty. Ads only use photos of models with Photoshop,
making to women unattainable to look like the models. “Young women will often aspire
to be like celebrities, the media may have acted to promote eating disorders by linking
the illness with women of beauty and status” (Giles 813). Women want to look like the
models of ads, so women start a strict diet and exercise. Although women try with a diet
and exercise just to look like the models, women will not achieves look like the models
because even the models do not look like the image in the ads. When women fail with
diet and exercise, women will feel frustrated with their self for not being able to look
like the thin models of ads. “Early studies suggested that chronic dissatisfaction towards
one’s own body may trigger the development of eating disorders” (Manaf, Zuhrah y
Saravana 1). Then when women feels frustrated, women will start looking for other
methods like vomiting or not eating to lost weight. “The wish to be thin among women
could also be explained by the messages the media gives out and its influence on young
people” (Verma 98). The pressure on ads that say that being skinny is having a perfect
