Vapid Values – Page 11

Kids Take Lessons From National Debt Binge

September 25, 2008 by Amy Jussel 16 Comments

‘Don’t do as I do, do as I say,’ could be the governmental finger wag lecturing kids on fiscal fitness. How can we expect kids to learn about credit/debit and healthy financial management skills with restrained realism when we’re handing over the national credit card with a ‘put it on the tab’ mall mentality? It’s becoming more … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Consumerism, Damaging Drek, Emerging trends & STEM, Growing up too soon, Marketing Shaping Youth, Media Literacy, Shaping Youth, Vapid Values Tagged With: Alex Steed, business math, career planning, Consumerist, consumption, council on foreign relations, Credit Card Reform, credit cards, debit cards, economic crisis, economist, financial education, financial savvy, financial woes kids, fiscal fitness, foreign debt, GDP, generation debt, kids financial literacy, life skills, Make Something Happen, Millenial activsts, money management, national debt, New Statesman, online banking, personal accountability, responsibility, student loans, teens, youth financial services

What Sells: Infants As Fashion Statements and Joke Props?

September 18, 2008 by Amy Jussel 18 Comments

Nope, not a Halloween costume...Just "Heelarious" consumption for the Carrie Bradshaw wannabes. Gosh, THIS is what merits a booking on The Today Show? Twice? (video of other 'outrageous offerings' after the jump) Yeah, yeah, I know, ‘get a sense of humor’...Relax. I realize babies in stiletto crib booties are intended to make folks smile (Pet Rocks had … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Advertising, Branding & Consumerism, Consumerism, Emerging trends & STEM, Growing up too soon, Marketing Shaping Youth, Media Literacy, Sexualization & Body Image, Shaping Youth, Vapid Values Tagged With: APA, APA sexualization study, baby booties, Baby high heels, beyonce, booty call, CCFC, celebrity, crib shoes, dereon diva, Early-Sexualization, fashion pumps for babies, fashionista, Heelarious, infant wear, KGOY, novelty gifts, objectification, outrageous baby products, Packaging-Girlhood, Pink Think, Pop-Culture, prostitot, sesame streetwalker, So Sexy So Soon, stiletto crib booties

HFCS Corn Wars: A Surprise That’s Far from Sweet

September 8, 2008 by Amy Jussel 13 Comments

“Mom, go to SweetSurprise.com right now!” yelled my daughter in an urgent commando bark. Before I could even protest her lousy timing, I got a “NOW! I’m not kidding! GO! GO!” she shouted at me like a drill sergeant. Sheesh. Well, when she’s right, she’s right. Turns out ABC Family was running not one, not two, but EIGHT rotations of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Advertising, Branding & Consumerism, Consumerism, Damaging Drek, Emerging trends & STEM, Marketing Shaping Youth, Media Literacy, Nutrition & Wellness, Product Placement, Sexualization & Body Image, Shaping Youth, Stereotypes & Diversity, Vapid Values Tagged With: Amy-Jussel, Appetite for Profit, artifical additives, biochem, chem cuisine, Consumerist, Corn Refiners Assoc., corn syrup, CSPI, Diabetes Action Team, FDA, food law profs, Food Politics, Health Commentary, HFCS, HFCS dangers, HFCS Food Supply, HFCS junk food science, HFCS myths, High fructose corn syrup, junk-food, Marion Nestle, Mayo Clinic, Michael Pollan, Michele Simon, natural, organics, processed food, Public Citizen, Rebecca Scritchfield, Rudd Center, Sweet Surprise, Washington Post Kids Obesity Series, What to Eat, Yale

The MySpace Mom Skates, While The Teen Hangs? No Justice There!

August 5, 2008 by Amy Jussel 2 Comments

Not to get all soapbox-ey, but since we’ve been talking about digital ethics and online immersive behavior a lot lately, I’ve gotta toss this one out there… Yesterday’s MediaPost update on the case of the jilted 13-year old MySpace teen (Megan Meier, at left) who hung herself due to a misguided mom masquerading as online beau Josh Evans (who never … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Damaging Drek, Emerging trends & STEM, Media Literacy, Shaping Youth, Vapid Values Tagged With: 1st Amendment, adults behaving badly, Childrens Television Act, Clint Eastwood, criminal, Cyberbullying, cyberlaw, democracy, Digital ethics, digital monopolies, Facebook-Beacon, FCC, First Amendment, free speech, FTC, hate crimes, internet abuse, Internet-Privacy, kids-media, Lori Drew, Megan Meier, MySpace, Nancy Willard, Simple Justice, teen suicide, Unforgiven, VoIP

Buffed Boy Body Image and Teen Scene ‘Hottie’ Factor

June 24, 2008 by Amy Jussel 32 Comments

Teen pals a little testier than usual? Ever heard of ‘roid rage?’ Awhile back I wrote about body image issues offering “equal opportunity toxicity” as young boys have increased body dysmorphia, emulating buffed boy, ripped six-pack icons of video games and ‘hunks’ modeled and merchandised ad nauseum. Not getting alarmist, as we're still in single digit growth percentages, … [Read more...]