stop saying advertising is evil
Yesterday, a colleague asked me if I feel conflicted working in advertising while caring about overconsumption. This came up in a discussion about fast fashion, particularly SHEIN.
This was my reply.
Advertising has always been around. Saying “advertising” is bad is like saying companies should close their sales departments. You don't get customers if you never advertise your product. Milk cartons have labels. Soap bars have engravings. Even a tomato will have a tiny “Greenhouse grown” sticker on it because that's how you differentiate from the competition. The word marketing comes from “market”, which, in turn, originates from a similar-sounding Latin word that means “buying and selling”. What part of it is wrong, “buying” or “selling”?
But the same way manufacturing companies have ethical responsibility over what they manufacture, advertising companies may or may not choose to engage with a certain brand. You don't smoke? Don't advertise cigarettes. Not a Knicks fan? Well, you know the answer. As much as we choose what we consume, we can choose what we promote.
The advertising industry still evolves, and regulations keep it safe. You don't see ads for drugs. At least not all of them. Gambling is banned in many states, and so is its promotion. As a society, we have a responsibility to put pressure on the government, so that better, more ethical brands appear on billboards.
Stop saying advertising is evil. It speaks more about you than the industry.