Why Could Junk Food Advertising Aimed At Children Be Banned?


Junk food advertising aimed at children could be banned in a bid to tackle child obesity under proposed laws introduced into the federal parliament. Healthy Kids Advertising Bill, which would need the government's support to progress, would impose new regulations on TV, radio, and social media ads. The bill recommends the prohibition of "unhealthy food" ads on TV and radio, including subscription-based and streaming services between 6am and 9:30pm. It also recommends social media and online advertisements be banned altogether with the argument that more needs to be done to tackle Australia's obesity epidemic. What are your thoughts LiveTribers? Why could junk food advertising aimed at children be banned?

Posted by on 27 Jul 2023

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  • [0] [0]
    maria

    Aside from banning junk food advertising to tackle children obesity, parents should also be responsible with what they're children eat.

    Posted by maria on 05 May 2024
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  • [0] [0]
    yelsha42

    Wholeheartedly agree

    Posted by yelsha42 on 12 Apr 2024
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  • [0] [0]
    kendallx3

    Great idea

    Posted by kendallx3 on 12 Apr 2024
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  • [1] [0]
    Kittykato

    Banning ads won't change anything if the food is still in the supermarket!

    Posted by Kittykato on 17 Oct 2023
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  • [0] [1]
    wrestling collector

    As an adult in a time of weakness I can be tempted by ads featuring unhealthy food,so I assume it may have a bigger impact on children

    Posted by wrestling collector on 03 Sep 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    MS

    The money stops and starts with parents. Many parents buy it, (junk food) for the whole family. Educate the parents as even banning those adds wont have the desired results. Increasing the cost of junk foods would be more effective than a ban on adds. Not all these are aimed at kids anyhow.

    Posted by MS on 19 Aug 2023
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  • [1] [0]
    wanderdog

    The whole problem with "fat " kids is that sit on their bums infront of a computer screen all day. When I was a growing child we were always outside (except when raining) playing & exploring with friends. We were active in the environment this also resulted in far fewer allergies among the children. So in my humble opinion to solve the obesity epidemic among children is remove the electronics & get the kids outside to physically play & interact with their friends.

    Posted by wanderdog on 13 Aug 2023
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  • [1] [0]
    Offspring

    Banning junk food ads should be squarely based at the PARENTS - they are the facilitators in this. Stop stuffing little Tarquin and Fifi-trixabelle with rubbish and COOK THEM A HEALTHY BALANCED MEAL. HELLO.

    Posted by Offspring on 11 Aug 2023
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  • [0] [1]
    Jay

    |I would strongly support the law being passed since it will help the child obesity issue. Although I think those ads should be banned from the beginning, better late than never.

    Posted by Jay on 11 Aug 2023
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  • [0] [1]
    XIAOYANG

    They should be banned a century ago. The junk food is addictive to kids but is the main source of causing obesity and sub-healthiness status for kid. I support the banning.

    Posted by XIAOYANG on 11 Aug 2023
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  • [0] [1]
    vlee

    I agree they should be banned but my top priority would be banning gambling ads. I think gambling and alcohol/drug abuse does more damage to people's lives than junk food.

    Posted by vlee on 11 Aug 2023
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  • [0] [1]
    Bree1234

    Should be banned due to the appeal and condoning child obesity

    Posted by Bree1234 on 11 Aug 2023
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  • [0] [1]
    wrestling collector

    I think it should be at least trialed.to see what affect it has.

    Posted by wrestling collector on 11 Aug 2023
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  • [1] [0]
    Kimmo

    Unhealthy foods are promoted to kids everywhere, including in the sports centres… why put vending machines with chips and candies there? I don’t think any bill will make a difference…

    Posted by Kimmo on 11 Aug 2023
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  • [1] [0]
    Gesina

    I think that banning the ads won't change a thing. On one hand, banning the ads would help having junk food away from their eyes BUT they can still buy it anyway for themselves. In other words, hiding it isn't the answer as it's like sweeping it under the carpet as it doesn't fix the problem at all

    Posted by Gesina on 07 Aug 2023
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  • [0] [1]
    TonyLT

    It definitely should be, children will believe and be encouraged by what they see in advertising

    Posted by TonyLT on 07 Aug 2023
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  • [1] [0]
    sandra

    I disagree with banning. The 'NO' word needs to be used more often and adults need to set better examples. It's not children driving through the drive-thrus! We need to learn to think for ourselves not be cotton-woolled.

    Posted by sandra on 07 Aug 2023
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  • [0] [1]
    Jigsaw

    Absolutely agree !

    Posted by Jigsaw on 07 Aug 2023
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  • [0] [1]
    Guntis

    Junk food ads must be banned not only for children !

    Posted by Guntis on 07 Aug 2023
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  • [2] [0]
    Veejay

    I do agree with banning advertising aimed at children, but really think it’s the parents who are buying a lot of these or giving the children the money to buy them for themselves….if only they could spend the money on educating the children about the dangers of junk food instead of spending it on the ban on advertising…. I really think it would be hard to ban on all social platforms but I am not that tech savvy so I have no idea

    Posted by Veejay on 01 Aug 2023
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  • [0] [1]
    Jenni

    I do think it should be banned. Anything to try and reduce the amount kids eat (or anyone really) is a good thing

    Posted by Jenni on 31 Jul 2023
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  • [0] [1]
    sulter

    Junk food should be banned as it makes people less health.y

    Posted by sulter on 31 Jul 2023
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  • [0] [1]
    Casey

    It encourages unhealthy eating habits and kids generally prefer junk food over other healthier tasting foods

    Posted by Casey on 31 Jul 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    LeafyGreen

    Because it encourages kids to hassle parents to buy junk that is not good for them. All industrial processed food is harmful to your health. Eat real food.If all kids and adults just gave up the junk and packaged foods we would see an incredible increase of healthier people.

    Posted by LeafyGreen on 30 Jul 2023
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  • [3] [1]
    SueD

    It is not the advertising that is the problem, it is the parents who buy the stuff for the kids. Promote education regarding healthy eating. We already have some advertisements for healthy eating, but they are not as well distributed as the fast food ads, and not as attractive. Ads put together by health departments tend to be low quality, muted colours and very serious, often animated. They just don't compete with the fast food ads. Banning or limiting one set of ads at the expense of another will not fix the problem - promoting healthy diet and exercise will help.

    Posted by SueD on 30 Jul 2023
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  • [2] [1]
    Luke

    Fast food will always be there weather they advertise it or not parents need to teach there young ones early

    Posted by Luke on 29 Jul 2023
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  • [2] [1]
    Casey

    Seems like a bit of an excessive reaction, a better solution would be better education regarding healthy and moderated eating.

    Posted by Casey on 27 Jul 2023
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  • [0] [1]
    LeafyGreen

    Trouble is educating people has not worked. Advertising is very powerful and kids are much more influenced by it. Screaming kids at check-outs does not help many parents to moderate their eating, especially if they eat the food themselves.

    Posted by LeafyGreen on 30 Jul 2023
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  • [3] [1]
    Paula

    For goodness sake, no banning something else. Junk food doesn't make kids fat, it's over eating junk food and irresponsible parents that makes kids fat. There were junk food adds when my children were young but we simply told them we couldn't afford it other than a celebration which was the truth. Three birthdays a year was their lot. It's high time parents behaved like parents rather friends.

    Posted by Paula on 27 Jul 2023
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  • [2] [2]
    Spiderwoman

    Advertising aimed at children is insidious and should be banned. Children experience advertising on TV, YouTube, apps, radio, billboards, magazines, movies, the internet, online games, text messages, social media and more; they often take it in subliminally and, depending on their stage of development, knowledge and experience, are not always aware of the manipulation.

    Posted by Spiderwoman on 27 Jul 2023
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  • [3] [0]
    mid

    banning advertising will not reduce exposure to junk food, setting good meal examples at home and providing healthy food to children is the better way to change poor food choice habits

    Posted by mid on 27 Jul 2023
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  • [2] [2]
    jvonne

    Definitely a good idea

    Posted by jvonne on 27 Jul 2023
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  • [2] [0]
    Woodness

    It's probably a good idea to ban the ads that include giveaways for kids but I think the 9.30pm time limit is too late. I am not a great fan of banning things in general. Companies need to advertise to stay in business but need to be accountable as well. I also think the parents need to be more in control of what their kids eat.

    Posted by Woodness on 27 Jul 2023
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  • [2] [2]
    daniel

    It should be !! Diabetes rotten teeth and then addition to sugar parents might not buy it if children didn't see it /and want it

    Posted by daniel on 27 Jul 2023
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  • [1] [0]
    Joshy79

    Only if it aims to have a level of self-promotion about alternatives to junk food as well, such a balance and proportion sizes.

    Posted by Joshy79 on 27 Jul 2023
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  • [2] [1]
    Tedskeeeeez

    Great idea, fast food giants are targeting the youth of this country to boost their profits without any consideration or conscience for them and their future. I know it's extreme but given the attitude of these fast food giants I have no problem with banning all advertising on mainstream media to stop this obesity crisis impacting our youth.

    Posted by Tedskeeeeez on 27 Jul 2023
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  • [2] [0]
    Rossrooster

    As long as this advertising includes clowns, bright colours and toy give-a-ways and the menu includes burgers served in bread rolls that are 10% sugar then yes, stop them advertising. I never see ads for salads from these restaurants, even though they have salads.

    Posted by Rossrooster on 27 Jul 2023
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  • [1] [1]
    Elandra

    It would help limit the exposure to unhealthy food choices and maybe deter some children and parents from falling under the spell of all the advertising for fast foods and unhealthy snacks.

    Posted by Elandra on 27 Jul 2023
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  • [1] [0]
    Jan

    Banning just doesn’t work. What is needed is education of the parents covering all the health issues they are exposing their kids to. Advice on how to break the addictions in their home.

    Posted by Jan on 27 Jul 2023
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  • [3] [0]
    tutti_cutie

    Banning is not the answer. It's all about education. In the age of social media banning is not going to stop kids from seeing these things. But if you teach them healthy habits from young, that is what's going to help in the long run.

    Posted by tutti_cutie on 27 Jul 2023
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  • [2] [0]
    T33

    Removing advertising is just a drop in the ocean. Parents need to limit their own time at McDonald's & other fast food outlets. They need to teach their kids that that type of food is just a treat and isn't real food. With kids its monkey see, monkey do. From when they're a toddler they see the parents eating rubbish and drinking coke and the kids want it too. A lot of parents should cut back on rubbish foods themselves, but if the parents are eating healthy & the child wants junk due to a tv advert, kids need to he brought up that no means no.

    Posted by T33 on 27 Jul 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    Katie

    Advertising aims at children and only shows positives which makes it more appetising for children. This needs to change with positive advertisements for healthy food such as fruits and vegetables so that they are considered a treat as well to shift mindsets.

    Posted by Katie on 27 Jul 2023
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  • [1] [1]
    bmlglp

    It sound like a good start to tackle this issue.

    Posted by bmlglp on 27 Jul 2023
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  • [2] [0]
    SW

    Removing advertising will alter the attractiveness of fast food but not remove the problem, much like limiting gambling advertising. Schools are trying to do the right thing in educating about healthy options, but it is largely up to the parents to provide.

    Posted by SW on 27 Jul 2023
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  • [2] [0]
    Gandalf1

    Personally I doubt that banning such adverts will make any difference to child obesity, and companies have to promote their products and from what I've seen, they don't really appear to be aimed at children, but the general population. Already in primary school we see that the canteens are implementing "healthy foods only" policies and in some schools, kids lunches brought from home are being examined for health benefits etc., and that too is going way too far. Parents have more rights for their children and what they eat than school canteens should have. If such advertising rules are to be implemented, shouldn't the same be applied for/to adults when advertsing fast foods then ??

    Posted by Gandalf1 on 27 Jul 2023
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  • [1] [0]
    Seena

    Banning the ads alone wont bring much of a change. They have to be controlled. More healthy options should be available so that the kids dont feel theyvare missing out anything.

    Posted by Seena on 27 Jul 2023
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  • [5] [1]
    wombatwagon

    I think that it is going too far. These companies have a right to advertise their products and the parents should be more responsible in teaching their children responsible food choices. Everything in moderation. They have stopped advertising for alcohol at certain times on television and cigarettes advertising has been banned from tv for many years but it hasnt stopped the problem.

    Posted by wombatwagon on 27 Jul 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    LeafyGreen

    Banning smoking ads has worked a huge decrease from the 1970s when many more smoked and did not know of the harm.

    Posted by LeafyGreen on 30 Jul 2023
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