The report says governments aren't doing enough to regulate junk food ads specifically targeting vulnerable children.
With
today’s access to different media formats, children are even more open
to negative exposure when it comes to adverts. This has resulted in the
World Health Organization (WHO) releasing a report emphasizing the
plethora of junk food advertisements targeting children especially in
Europe through social media, apps and video blogs.
The report
warns parents of the sheer volume of adverts of which many are unaware
of during their child’s stint on the computer or phone. WHO also
criticize governments for not taking more responsibility in curbing
targeted ads and not keeping up with trends and the way in which
children interact with the internet.
The problem lies with
junk food companies who use online marketing through digital analytics
and geo-location data meaning they are honing in particularly on
vulnerable people like children and influencing their food choices.
“In
digital media, an extensive, highly-complex system of advertising
delivery has evolved, through which marketers can access much more
specific audiences than in the broadcast era. For fast-food brands,
geo-location data from mobile devices enable marketers to deliver ads
and special offers in real time when users are in the area,” the WHO
report said.
While some protection is laid out in the U.S. in the
form of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) which
limits the amount of data marketing agencies can gain from children,
there is still a massive problem that needs to be addressed.
“Children’s
participation in digital media should not be predicated on receiving
digital (high fat, sugar or salt food) advertising, nor should it be
predicated on ‘devolving’ consent to parents,” stated WHO in the report.