To the Editor:

As companies look for more ways to increase profit, many have resorted to marketing directed to children.

From snacks to toys, marketers have created a largely successful tactic for appealing to the young buyers. The companies are advertising on school buses, children's television channels and websites. This is unethical because it fosters buying behavior and consumerism in young children.

Marketing tactics directed at children are immoral.

Children do not choose to be consumers, but are the victims of corporations' attempts to grow profit margins. Children are being bombarded with advertisements for products as companies hope the children will become buyers.

Because they are not yet mature, many children cannot distinguish advertisements from programming, especially on television and websites. This means the advertising they see is largely unfair.

Also, children have little money of their own. Companies realize this, but know that children will beg their parents for the advertised product. When the children see these products, they often nag their parents to buy them. Companies rely on this "pester power," because they know it will often get the child's parents to buy the company's product.

Advertisements and marketing aimed at children also create negative social consequences, especially since many advertisements are for unhealthy foods and beverages. Advertisements for snack food and fast food restaurants directed at children are contributing toward the nationwide obesity epidemic in young people.

For these reasons, marketing towards children is unethical.

Sophia Wertz

Emmaus High School