Advertisements. Ever heard of them? Advertisements, or ads for short, try to influence you with different messages. That’s why it’s important to pay special attention to them. Here we go—time for an example! Announcer’s voice: “With the new AirForce4000s, you’ll not only run faster, you’ll get noticed more, too! Cool kids wear AirForce4000s. Get yours today!” Wait a second—for real? This is why you need to be careful. Ads sometimes try to get you to want things you don’t really need. This ad is trying to make you believe that AirForce4000s can make you faster and cooler—they can’t. A pair of shoes won’t ever make you more popular or a faster runner. But ads make sometimes false promises. That’s why it’s important to think critically and question what you hear. And it’s not just TV ads that try to influence you. Ads are everywhere: online, on buses, in the metro, on social media … Even in online games. Companies will try to get you to spend money on items that help you get to the next level or make your character stronger. And sure, it may be pretty tempting to buy that magic elixir and level up! But don’t forget that they’re just trying to make you buy things you don’t necessarily need. So be on guard! Another trick advertisers use to get you to buy their product over someone else’s is beautiful packaging. The last time you went to the grocery store, did you notice the bright colours and fun pictures on cereal boxes, candy bars and bags of chips? The packaging is designed to grab your attention. Companies are trying to get you to choose their product over another. They do that by making you want something bad enough to buy it. Ask your parents to help you compare the actual products, not the packages they come in, and decide whether it’s something you really need. Obviously, not all ads spread false messages. You just need to keep your eyes open and develop the reflexes to ask questions before buying something. The next time you see or hear an ad, try to recognize the strategies it’s using and ask questions before you decide to buy something. Well done! You’ve now finished watching our video on advertisements.