Whileitistruethatsomeadvertisementsdoprovideusefulinformationaboutnewproducts,Ibelievethattheirprimaryeffectistoencouragepeopletobuythingsthattheydontreallyneed.
Firstofall,mostadvertisingdoesnotintroduceabrand-newproduct.Instead,itisdesignedtopersuadeconsumersthatonecompany'sproductissuperiortothatofanothercompany.Second,whenaproductisnew,theadvertisingisoftendesignedtocreatedemandforit.Inotherwords,itsgoalistoconvincepotentialbuyersthatthisnewproductisreallynecessary,whetherornotitactuallyis.Third,manyadvertisementsareimageads,designedtosellpeopleluxuryproducts.Theadsimplythatbybuyingsuchproductstheconsumerwillgainsomethingelsesuchashappiness,respectorlove.
Whileitcanbearguedthatadvertisingissometimesusefultoconsumerswhomaywanttocomparedifferentbrands,Ibelieveitsoveralleffectistogetpeopletobuythingsthattheydon'tneed.