Society and Ads, Who Impacts Who??

What a question, "Does society imulate on ads or does ads imulate on society?" I believe that the best way to answer this question is to really look at our society and see what we have become and what type of things affect our decision making (about anything). At first I want to say that society imulates on ads but at the same time I see tons of ads that imulates on society. Maybe I am wrong, but I think it goes both ways it just depends on what the topic may be.

The way I view society in its roll in ads is, society is heavyly based on what they see and want and what actions they must take to get it. For example cell phones which were one of the topics we talked briefly on in class. When cell phones first came out no one knew about them. They way the designers/sellers got their message out was buy telling or making an ad to attack potential buyers. Once people seen this new device,those who could afford it and wanted a cell phone went and brought it. Today it is very easy to get a cell phone, almost everyone has one. As of today cell phone companies do the same thing when they come out with a new style for a cell phone they make sure their ad is highly attractive and eye catching to society(the viewers).

Another great example is Televisions. Before there were any televisions everyone had a radio in their house. When televiosions first came out very few people had them and the offered only a few channels. By the companys who were making this new device, they knew the only way their product was going to sell is if they came out with an ad that no one else used. They made ads by posters, and newsletters going to every individual possible. They brought out a block of time on the radio stations all over so people could hear what the new, "great," "exciting", thing was and how they can get one of their own. Before the 1950's no one knew what a television nor did they want one everyone wanted the new and improved radio. Even when televisions came out people were still buying radios with better features. Today television companies advertise for HD tv's before they made an ad out no one want one or thought of wanting one. Someone came up with an idea made a great marketing/advertising campaign and people caught on and now wants HD televisions.

When it come to society imulating ads, one thing comes to mind, television shows that talk about self acceptance and loving what you see in the mirror, being happy with how you are. I know on Lifetime, they said women wanted a show where it said it ok to look the way you are and you should be happy with who you are. Even their commercial ads are like that. This only happened because women were stepping up and complaining about what other channels and shows were saying about women with different body types then our average typical model. Now Lifetime airs a few show geared specificly to women who look different then the models we all see in ads and on tv.

Another example would be drug rehablitation centers, family of addics were in great need for help to try to get their love one off of drugs. For years we had centers to help them that only because society said it was needed not and ad or companys that was trying to gain a profit for a new and up coming device or object.