Brands taking unfair advantage of people’s insecurities to sell

We as human beings are flawed and often doubt ourselves. We envy other people for having something we lack. And that is basic human nature. Everyone feels this way at some point in their life. 

Insecurities are a major part of our being. We often feel insecure about our body, our skin color, our height and many other things. These insecurities often tend to make us conscious in public. 

Brands took notice of these insecurities and converted them into an opportunity for them to sell their products and services. Insecurities tend to trigger people and brands made most from this trigger. Brands address these insecurities in a way that people are temped to buy their products. 

For instance, a study shows that women feel the least beautiful on Mondays. So, this insecurity among women is a great opportunity for brands to advertise beauty products especially on a Monday. 

We as human beings are at out weakest when we feel insecure. Brands understood this and stated selling their products accordingly. Brands also tell us the consequences we will face if we do not change our appearance. Like, the brand Fair & Lovely (now Glow & Lovely) promoted their fairness cream saying that if you use this you will end up at a better job or can get married quickly. This advertisement had raised a lot of eyeballs regarding the unethical means used by the brand. For instance; a facewash ad by Himalaya shows a girl freaking out at the sight of a pimple on her face. This puts the belief in us that pimples are ugly-looking. Hence, this triggers insecurity among people with marks on their face and leads them to buy the product. 

These forms of advertising being unfair has been a point of debate for a long time now. People say that his is an unfair, unethical means of promotion and tends to increase insecurities among people. And these insecurities lead to self-doubt and self-loathing. This means of advertising has been termed unethical by many people. Mainly because brands promote wrong ideologies and opinions through these ads. 

For instance; a facewash ad by Himalaya shows a girl freaking out at the sight of a pimple on her face. This puts the belief in us that pimples are ugly-looking. Hence, this triggers insecurity among people with marks on their face and leads them to buy the product. 

Today, where people are progressive than ever, the advertising culture is changing. Brands are more careful today when they put out an ad. One such progressive movement led Fair & Lovely to change their brand name because of the ideas they promoted. 

Will all the brands stop triggering insecurities? Well, this is very uncertain. Only time will tell!