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Marketing strategies play a major role in the economic and social development of society. People, governments, corporations, and organizations all use marketing as a way to influence public opinion and increase sales. However, marketing can have some negative impacts on society as well.
Top 10 damages caused to the sociaty by marketing strategies
- Unhealthy Lifestyles: Promotion of junk food, fast food, and unhealthy beverages can lead to unhealthy eating habits and weight gain. Moreover, certain marketing techniques may target children, leading them to believe that these products are safe and necessary for their health and wellbeing.
- Gender Stereotypes: Many marketing campaigns feature gender-stereotyped models and roles. This can have a profound effect on young people and their views of what is considered ‘normal’.
- Overconsumption: Marketers often use techniques such as creating new products and constantly offering discounts to encourage consumers to buy more than they need or can afford. This can lead to greater materialism and wastefulness.
- Exploitation of Natural Resources: Consumer items often require raw materials and resources, which can lead to the exploitation of wildlife, ecosystems, and indigenous communities. Marketers rarely provide information on the long-term consequences of their actions.
- Waste Creation: Advertising messages often focus on how new products are better and improved versions of existing ones. As a result, consumers discard old items they no longer use or need, leading to higher levels of environmental waste.
- Social Exclusion: Companies often target specific age groups and income brackets in order to maximize their sales. This can lead to social exclusion, since not everyone has access to the same products or services.
- Unethical Practices: Those working in marketing often find themselves under pressure from their superiors to put ethics aside in order to meet their targets and boost sales. This can lead to unethical practices such as misleading advertising, deceptive pricing, and more.
- Taste Manipulation: Marketers attempt to influence public opinion by manipulating the tastes and preferences of their target audience. This can lead to unhealthy habits and an overreliance on certain products.
- Consumer Debt: With the prevalence of credit cards, marketers often entice consumers to purchase items they may not be able to afford or need. This can lead to financial problems, such as an increase in consumer debt.
- Consumer Disempowerment: With the increasing use of digital marketing, consumers can feel overwhelmed and disempowered by the amount of advertising and promotional messages they see. This can lead to a feeling of helplessness and even cynicism.
The use of marketing strategies can have severe impacts on society. From unhealthy lifestyles to consumer disempowerment, it is important to be aware of the risks involved with modern marketing practices.
