TASK 2:
ESSAY INFORMATION:
Written by: IELTS I-Ready, 31/3/2025
Marked by: Ex-BC Examiner
(IELTS Academic – 29/3/2025)
Question: Some people believe that powerful advertising can be harmful to individuals. In what ways can advertising negatively affect people? What solutions can be implemented to minimize its harmful effects?
ANSWER:
Advertising plays a pivotal role in modern economies, promoting products and shaping consumer choices. However, some argue that overly persuasive advertising can have detrimental effects on individuals. This essay will discuss the negative impacts of powerful advertising and suggest practical solutions to mitigate these harms.
The detrimental impacts of advertising can be multifaceted. One significant way advertising harms individuals is by encouraging excessive consumerism. Through emotional appeals, idealized imagery, and celebrity endorsements, advertisements often persuade people to buy products they do not need, leading to impulsive spending and unnecessary financial strain. This is particularly concerning for young people, who are more susceptible to such messages and may develop distorted views of success and self-worth based on material possessions. Another major concern is the manipulation of vulnerable audiences, such as children. Many advertisements for sugary snacks, fast food, or toys exploit the naivety of children, fostering unhealthy habits or unrealistic expectations. In the long run, this can contribute to problems such as childhood obesity, poor self-image, or an inability to distinguish between genuine value and commercial hype.
Fortunately, solutions regarding regulations on advertising and education can be used to mitigate this problem. A possible way to minimize these harmful effects is to enforce stricter regulations on advertising content, especially those targeting impressionable groups. For example, governments can ban or limit advertisements for junk food during children’s programming, or require disclaimers on ads that use photo editing or exaggerated claims. In addition, media literacy education should be introduced in schools to help young people critically evaluate advertising messages. By teaching students to recognize persuasive techniques and question the motives behind commercials, they can make more informed decisions and resist manipulative marketing tactics.
In conclusion, powerful advertising can negatively affect individuals by promoting consumerism and manipulating vulnerable cohorts. However, with tighter advertising regulations and improved media literacy education, these harmful impacts can be significantly reduced.
(312 words)
HIGHLIGHT VOCABULARY:
English | Vietnamese |
Endorsements | Sự chứng thực |
Persuade | Thuyết phục |
Impulsive | Bốc đồng |
Susceptible | Dễ bị ảnh hưởng |
Distorted | Sai lệch |
Distinguish | Phân biệt |
Enforce | Thực thi |
Exaggerated | Phóng đại |
Tactics | Chiến thuật |