News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on Netflix Saves Kids from Up to 400 Hours of Commercials a Year. Parent comment

Re:Netflix Saves Kids from Up to 400 Hours of Commercials a ... by standardUser on Tuesday May 14, 2019 @02:04PM (#19912066)
Yes, they were that bad and were getting worse. By the late 90's, most ads directed at young children were reminiscent of a bad acid trip. Flashing lights and colors, non-stop quick-cuts and people literally screaming over and over for you, a child of 6 or 7 years, to BUY THE THING! YOU GOTTA HAVE IT! COLLECT THEM ALL!

It was absolutely terrifying and we should all be collectively ashamed for allowing it to persist and to happen in the first place.

Here's a random example I just found on YouTube (first 30 seconds): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXzR3-w3vEQ

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Netflix Saves Kids from Up to 400 Hours of Commercials a ... by whamlastxmas on Tuesday May 14, 2019 @03:46PM (#19913188)
Those don't look like ads from the 90s.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Netflix Saves Kids from Up to 400 Hours of Commercials a ... by ssully on Tuesday May 14, 2019 @02:14PM (#19912203)
Ads like that suck, but I think you are pearl clutching a bit.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Netflix Saves Kids from Up to 400 Hours of Commercials a ... by owlninja on Tuesday May 14, 2019 @02:05PM (#19912086)
My kids have literally zero disposable income. I'm not saying I enjoy ads or that we need more, but HN goes really over the top against advertising.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Netflix Saves Kids from Up to 400 Hours of Commercials a ... by ceejayoz on Tuesday May 14, 2019 @02:09PM (#19912127)
> My kids have literally zero disposable income.

They can ask to use yours, though, which is what most kid-targeted advertising looks to cause.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Netflix Saves Kids from Up to 400 Hours of Commercials a ... by owlninja on Tuesday May 14, 2019 @04:22PM (#19913510)
And you just say no?
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Netflix Saves Kids from Up to 400 Hours of Commercials a ... by ceejayoz on Tuesday May 14, 2019 @05:01PM (#19913865)
Sure, you can, but most parents don't say no every time, and that means sometimes asking's going to pay off.

Some of the "kidfluencer" content out there is clearly aimed at giving kids talking points to bring to their parents. Before we banned YouTube from the house a few years back, I had a couple experiences where my kids would come and give me canned marketing copy - "it's fun and educational for the whole family!" sort of nonsense - they'd clearly cribbed off a video.

One specific example of this I can remember: "EvanTube". Started off cute and relatively non-commercial, but turned into very clearly paid marketing. https://www.fastcompany.com/3045807/meet-the-father-son-team...

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Netflix Saves Kids from Up to 400 Hours of Commercials a ... by rpedela on Tuesday May 14, 2019 @02:38PM (#19912480)
Do you want them to constantly ask for useless junk or unhealthy junk (e.g. sugary cereal)? Throwing a tantrum when they don't get their way?
[ Parent | on HN ]