This was on purpose. Companies like to put their products in movies. Moviegoers spot them and think, "Cool! I want that!" Many people bought things they saw in Barbie.
Why did it work? Because of marketing and how people behave. Marketers are always trying new ways to advertise things. They try to reach buyers wherever they are. They also play on people's hopes and fears.
Here are common ad tricks. Their goal? To get people to take action.
Jump on the Bandwagon
"Jumping on the bandwagon" is what advertisers call it. It means to do something because everybody else is doing it. Bandwagon ads often show people hanging with best friends while enjoying a product. It might be the clothes they're wearing or the snacks they're munching.
Everyone wants to belong. Bandwagon ads play on that need, studies say. That's why many ads show groups of happy people having fun. They hint that we could be having fun, too. How? By buying the product!
What if we don't? Then we will miss out. We'll have no fun and won't have friends. This is what this advertising trick wants us to think.
Negative and Positive Propaganda
All advertising is a form of propaganda. In other words, it presents information in ways to get people to take action. Ads for products are one example. Political attack ads are another. These ads try to scare people into voting against someone. Most voters say they dislike these ads, but experts say they work.
Ads can try to make the world better, too. They may tell people to wear seat belts or ask them not to litter.
The U.S. government wanted to reach teens with messages about safety. So, it made a free music album. It has snappy dance songs with safety tips. One is about wearing bike helmets. Another tune is about firework safety.
Marketers want to convince us to do something. They may want us to buy stuff, or vote for someone, or stay safe. And they will use advertising tricks to do it. According to experts, recognizing what the ad wants us to do is super important. It helps us make smarter choices—and keep from getting tricked.
Think about and discuss these questions:
Compare the article's text and image. What part(s) of the text does the picture represent? Explain your thinking.
Consider the article's video, which is a track from We're Safety Now Haven't We. How would you describe the tricks it uses, and how well do you think they work?
Video credit: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Protect Ya Noggin'
Question 1
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What is the main idea of this article?
People like to buy clothes they see in the movies.
Companies use ad tricks to get people to buy things.
People like to hear attack ads with snappy songs.
Companies use ad tricks to get people to wear seat belts.
1 answer
The main idea of the article is: Companies use ad tricks to get people to buy things.
The article discusses various advertising techniques that companies employ to influence consumer behavior and promote their products, particularly in the context of the Barbie movie and the broader implications of marketing strategies.
