Jozui EAP

Every where we turn, there is some kind of  advertisement in our lives, whether it be a celebrity endorsed commercial, a billboard on the side of the road, or even a healthy food ad in a cafeteria. In this passage, columnist Sue Jozui contends that companies have celebrities sanction for their product. In other words, she firmly believes that businesses use someone well known to endorse their product. Jozui cites examples of celebrities who use a certain product in order to point out that these celebrity advertisements are used constantly, for many household items. For example, she says that a talk-show host will drive a certain kind of car. She also states that this talk-show host is paid to drive the specific car. The author expresses her suspicions of the notion that celebrity endorsed advertisements are misleading because the celebrity may not even like the product, but rather is using the product to gain a profit. Also, she believes that the audience will approve of the product because the celebrity uses it, which mocks the consumer’s intelligence. One of the main implications the author notes is if ads are regulated, consumers will be informed of facts about the product, rather than pictures. Because of this, Jozui concludes that that celebrity supported advertisements should be banned or regulated. Boycotting and regulating advertisements should not be banned because it will have an effect on the economy and it is against what the United States stands for.

            First, advertisement plays a huge role in the economy. Many businesses and not-profit organizations rely on these celebrities to bring in business. Many companies and organizations sometimes start off small, and use the known faces to bring in customers. On the other hand, big companies pay a lot of money to get the face of the stars, which helps create a bigger profit than what they used to get the familiar face. These companies gain business, which in the long run, boosts the economy. Also, some celebrities actually care about the cause they are supporting, not the money they receive. Many of the faces of non-profit organization donate millions of dollars into the cause, and are loyal. For example, Beyonce is part of multiple organizations in which she helps raise awareness for her organizations. She performs concerts to raise money for organizations like Stand Up to Cancer.

Next, the regulation would go against the system of the United States. The U.S. is a society of freedom of speech. The first amendment says that we have the freedom of speech and freedom to press. Some may argue that the content on an ad is misleading, and can harm society. There are laws that claim that products affecting health have to in some way let the consumer know of potential harms. It is up to the consumer to go past the billboard, commercial, or poster to see what they are getting themselves into about their purchase. It is on the person to know what they are putting into their bodies, or household. It is also up to them to know what is good or not, they have the power to actually say yes or no. The ads just urge you to buy there product, for they do not actually start your car, and put it in your hand. Secondly, getting rid of ads violates laissez-faire. Laissez- faire means that the government does not play a role into the economy. If the government regulates privates businesses, they are intervening with a part of society they would not touch. Lastly, we try to treat everyone and everything equal, but try to make someone work for what they want. These companies use these techniques to get where they want to be. If you regulate celebrity endorsed ads, then you must regulate other types of ads.

            Regulating ads will hurt the economy and society more than hurting individuals. Some may argue that we should have limits because obesity, self harm, and an increase in unnecessary consumerism has increased. These all occur due to the person’s own actions. The audience has to know what is right and wrong, and know about what they are getting themselves into.

Word Count: 695