Advertising discourages people from being different individuals by making us all want to do the same and look the same. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
不完全同意
Some people maintain that people’s individuality is disappearing because of advertising. Although this is true to some extent, it is still up to each of us to maintain our individuality.
It is important to note that most advertising is targeted at large groups of consumers. Although advertising encourages us all to wear the same brand of clothes, to drink the same brand of soft drink, or to shop more frequently at a particular retail store, the advertisers are well aware that people have multiple choices and will make purchases based on their individual preferences.
Although some people will succumb to the conformity encouraged by advertisers, others may still buy a product or service mostly because it fits who they are and who they want to be. For example, a person might see a television commercial promoting a specific brand of athletic shoes that is being promoted by a popular professional basketball player. The person viewing the advertisement might buy that brand of shoes because they like the image of that brand or because they aspire to be like the professional athlete in the commercial. Therefore, what is advertised may resonate with a group of customers who appreciate the message behind the advertisement, and this resonance does not necessarily indicate that they have lost their personalities.
Although advertising seems to nurture conformity and destroy individuality, people still have the free will to determine whether they will conform or not and whether they will buy a product or not. If a person feels their individuality is under threat by using a specific product, they can certainly choose an alternative.