Complete ban on advertising - thoughts?

[PesosBandage]

I haven't really thought this through terribly much, just thinking off the back of another thread I was reading.

I know that there are no longer adverts for cigarettes. And junk food can only be advertised at certain times? (I think?). Could this be rolled out on a MUCH larger scale, in the name of the climate crisis?

If no adverts were allowed (except perhaps for "non physical" things, like charity adverts for donations/ home insurance etc), and people had to actually think for themselves "oh, I need a new vacuum cleaner/ lamp/ toy car/ coat/ cocktail subscription" would this hugely reduce the mindless consumerism that we seem in the grip of? Like, if people weren't constantly being told to buy stuff, and had to do the leg work of finding what they need, either online or by walking round shops, would they actually still buy in such large quantities?

Obvs it would rather kill the advertising industry, which is probably a pretty huge employer, but if things are going to change for the good of the planet, then jobs are going to have to be lost/ change to facilitate this. Not easy, but will have to happen eventually to prevent the planet being utterly destroyed.

So, a ban on advertising - good idea, or really stupid?

Most of the free services would cease for starters, free email, social media, search engines, online guides, ITV, Channel 4 etc. Many services and businesses would collapse as they would not be able to let customers know they existed. Online sales would largely end up being only via a few big providers (Amazon, and the supermarkets) as they would be the only ones with a big enough presence.

I do sort of see what you are aiming at OP but too close to thought police / state control for me - what amounts to an 'advert' and as above means no free press, fewer small businesses and no, just no.

Those are good points that I'd not considered (I told you it wasn't a well formed idea!). Perhaps if we weren't all buying "stuff" though, we'd have more disposable income to pay for social media accounts etc. I'm thinking back to how my grandmother used to talk about her childhood, with 2 or 3 outfits, which lasted until they were outgrown or worn out - whereas now people have bursting wardrobes full of fast fashion. And she had a doll and a pram, as her only toys. If we spent less on surplus stuff, we could pay for the things that are currently free, if we wanted them.

It would indeed kill a lot of businesses, but maybe there could be a rule about advertising is allowed if your business is good for the planet, or not bad for the planet - uses recycled materials, minimal packaging, etc. Would encourage businesses to go green quicker, I imagine.

Again, totally ill-thought out! But just pondering.