How To Live In The 21st Century

2. How does it fit with Compass’ core beliefs of equality, solidarity, democracy, freedom, sustainability and well being?

comments made by clinical psychologists Allen D. Kanner, PhD in Monitor on Psychology, the official journal of the American Psychology Association (APA)

‘Advertising is a massive, multi-million dollar project that’s having an enormous impact on child development,” says Kanner,
Freedom from advertising while growing up would be a chance not to be conditioned in a constantly consuming,always disconted way. Allowing a future generatuion be more to Free, Happy and stainable

3. How does it build the institutions of social democracy, like social groups and collective and cooperative forms of ownership and control?

The reduction in a value system of success and status based on material aquisition will allow community and families to be based on values of good society and human realtionships. Childrens TV producation would be better done through Public Service Brodacsting and the BBC and Channel 4 etc would be best developed to do this . We should begin to see local communities ,streets and particularly families as institutions of social democracy

4. How much will it cost or raise and where will any cost come from?

There are of course potential cost to the media industry anf they would claim less childrens TV would be made but I suggest we include a ‘childrens element’ in the TV license which would be a small increase and the quality and value of programmes made by a good public service broadcast operation will be a big improvement on those made by the market with the predominant purpose of creating ‘merchandising’opportunities.

5. Which groups in the electorate are likely to support or oppose this measure? Is there any polling evidence you have on this?

No evidence but there will be those in advertising and media who oppose but no large demographic groups.

6. Is there a place or country where it’s worked? Please provide some information.

Sweden has a ban on all advertising aimed at children under 12 . Most European consumer organisations call for strong limitations of commercial activity directed at children. Out of the 15 EU countries, only 4 (France, Ireland, the Netherlands and the UK) do not consider advertising aimed at children as harmful, and Spain alone considers a ban on advertisement undemocratic. The present move to harmonise legislation in this area on a EU-wide basis raises a number of issues concerning how far legislation should go.

7. What are the three main arguments in favour/against it?

For

1)Children free to grow up without consumerist propaganda
2)Children will be happier free from material status anxiety
3) Less pressure within families to ‘get stuff’

Against
1)Limit on freedom to choose to consume or not to consume - Children learn about being wary and how to deal with ‘hard selling’
2)Impact upon making of Childrens TV
3) ?