Campaign Targets Child Exploitation in the Media

I’m impressed with the work of Susan Linn, author of The Case for Make-Believe: Saving Play in a Commercialized World, whose organization, Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC), has been attempting to stop corporations from using characters like Sponge Bob Square Pants,Sesame Street’s Elmo, and cartoon movie figures to advertise everything from sugar-rich cereals and unhealthy McDonald’s “happy meals” to fish food and worthless technological toys. She’s described how certain advertising companies have developed techniques to get young children to improve their “nagging skills” in asking their parents to purchase products for them. Thanks to the efforts of the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood, Scholastic Inc. will no longer be promoting the highly sexualized Bratz brand in schools. They are currently spearheading a campaign to stop PBS from promoting Chick-Fil-A on their popular children’s show Martha Speaks. To sign their petition, click here.