Famous Death Row Last Meals
Debunking Beer Can Chicken: A Waste Of Good Beer, And Dangerous
Photo: Getty Images
As if it weren't hard enough to dissuade your children from billboards and television ads touting fast food, a new tactic has entered the ad world. Fast food chains in Australia have begun emailing free-food vouchers to kids under 12. But could it happen here?
This "direct mail" marketing campaign from Australia-based chains Hungry Jack and Taco Bill strategically bypasses parents with an online "Kids Club," where children can register to receive "free meals on their birthdays, vouchers for free ice cream" and finger puppets, reports The Daily Telegraph. And you'd better believe health organizations went after them.
Under the umbrella of The Obesity Policy Coalition, the prosecuting organizations include: The World Health Organization, Diabetes Australia, VicHealth and Cancer Council of Victoria. But when they called on the Federal Government "to amend the Privacy Act to outlaw direct mail advertising to children," the Feds said children were already protected by spam laws, reports the Telegraph.
Jane Martin, the coalition's senior public officer, believes no such thing. And, really, if that were true, wouldn't the chains stop sending the mail?
The U.S. has certainly had its share of battles against fast-food giants -- you may remember the days of kids'-meal toys? -- and the Child Nutrition bill has made a firm stand for what we deem appropriate for a young person's diet. But are there any actual U.S. laws protecting our kids from direct mailing?
In the 2008 piece penned by Susan Linn of The Charleston Gazette, "Does America Need Strong Laws to Fight Obesity? Yes," Linn cites a Florida-based campaign where school districts were sending "report cards home in envelopes advertising Happy Meals." This was a year after the big public push of 2007 to curtail the rising obesity epidemic, notes Linn, when the World Health Organization and the U.S. Institute of Medicine identified child-targeted marketing as a strong culprit and fast-food companies pledged to curb the approach.
As for online marketing, in 1998, the U.S. enacted The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which prohibits commercial sites from collecting personal information from children under 13 without parental consent. But as social media expands into Twitter "check-ins," children can automatically be tracked without their (or your) consent. So it's still a battlefield.
In 2010, it may be harder to sell a burger with a plastic superhero, but not much is stopping an ad from reaching your kid's in-box. Privacy Rights Clearinghouse issued a resource for parents to learn things like how to disable cookies (a company's means of tracking your child's clicks in order to tailor ads), but you might just have to sit them down and tell them why these companies are so desperate.
LOOK: Bank Vault Saves 22 Lives During Tornado
Live from Microsoft's New Generation Xbox event!
Killed Soldier In London Attack Identified
Xbox Reveal liveblog on Joystiq
Dozens Killed in Oklahoma Tornado; Death Toll to Rise
Brave Woman Stood Down Armed London Attackers
The List #0147: Escape a Car Underwater
Xbox One architecture panel liveblog!
Surgeon's Remove Giant Hairball From Tiger
H&M's Plus-Size Model Jennie Runk Says She Chose To Gain Weight
Demi Looks FANTASTIC In A Bikini
Okla. Sheriff's Deputy Finds Dog Guarding Body Buried Under Destroyed Home
Okla. School Survivor: Teacher 'Saved Our Lives'
PHOTO: Dog Guards Dead Victim's Body After Oklahoma Tornado Disaster
Selena Gomez Leaving Justin Bieber's House: Booty Call Rumors Swirl
Helen Flanagan Launches PETA Campaign As Only She Knows How
Pope Francis Says All Who Do Good Are Redeemed - Atheists Included
Man Reportedly Beheaded In Brutal Assault In London Neighborhood
Singer Sues McDonald's, Claims Chicken Sandwich Incident Ruined Her Voice
Wolf Blitzer's Embarrassing Moment With Tornado Survivor
U.S. Acknowledges Four American Citizens Killed In Drone Strikes
The World's Most Powerful Women
Help For Heroes Killing
PHOTOS: Tornado Aftermath Leaves Trail Of Destruction
White Father Allegedly Suspected Of Kidnapping Biracial Daughters
NY Times Eviscerates Obama White House
Mother Dies With Infant During Oklahoma Tornado
Who Won 'DWTS'?
PHOTOS: Christie Brinkley Gets Back Into A Swimsuit At 59 Years Old
WATCH: Tornado Victim Finds Dog During CBS Interview
WATCH: Mom's Emotional Reunion With Son After Tornado
12-07-2010 @2:59AM Valencia Dentistry said... Fast Food is not only bad for the kid's stomach, but also to their teeth. Some action should be taken to deal with the situation.
Reply
12-15-2010 @3:09PM angie said... hi there im curious if you can help me this year for christmas, i tried to apply for a christmas basket from goodfellows, or the salvation army, but its to late now, i live in windsor ontario, im on a low income base, i dont work, and i have to children to take care of alone, my son is 11, and my daughter is 10, i was hoping you can help me with food vouchers, and toys for my children for christmas, please let me know, email me, or send me something by mail thankyou, angie 6203 thornberry cresent #174, windsor ontario, my postal code is n8t 3a5 thankyou, and merry christmas to you, and happy holidays. angie
Reply