During the American Public Health Association meeting Jennifer Harris, the Director of Marketing Initiatives at the Rudd Center noted that technological progress plays a dual role. While the traditional television advertising becomes less attractive to younger gourmands, “diners have a lot of [other] ways to attract children’s attention.” One of these ways are social networks that have received so high popularity among children and youth that TV cannot gain the same results.

Researchers recommend to restrict advertising aimed at kids on television and in the web-space of fast food outlets. This industry should introduce age restrictions on access to their marketing facilities in social media and via mobile devices.

Researcher’s concern has already yielded results. Thus, child-oriented websites such as McDonald’s, Burger King and Dairy Queen stopped working. However, a big amount of advertising that was previously broadcasted on websites, has moved on Facebook. In 2012, the fast food advertising was broadcasted on “Facebook” 6 billion times.

Source: econet