The Barnardo campaign against child poverty has caused a lot of controversy. The print advertisements have the tag line, "There are no silver spoons for children born into poverty," and then depict a wailing baby with either a crawling cockroach or poisonous liquid going down their throat.
In its bid to cause a sincere reaction, these images were found to be offensive and irresponsible. The complaints contended such ads could even encourage children to imitate what they’ve seen if they happened to catch the advertisement. Looking through the ads, however, I must admit that this sort of advertising is fairly powerful.
Child Poverty Shockvertising
The Barnardo Campaign Against Child Poverty Raises Eyebrows
Trend Themes
1. Shockvertising - Opportunity for brands to use controversial and provocative advertising to grab attention and provoke strong reactions.
2. Poverty Awareness - Opportunity to raise awareness about child poverty and its impact on society through impactful campaigns that spark conversations.
3. Responsible Advertising - Opportunity for brands to find a balance between impactful messaging and responsible advertising that avoids potential harm or offense.
Industry Implications
1. Advertising - Opportunity for advertising agencies and brands to explore new ways of capturing attention and creating impactful campaigns.
2. Non-profit - Opportunity for non-profit organizations focused on poverty alleviation to utilize impactful advertising campaigns to raise funds and awareness.
3. Childcare and Social Services - Opportunity for childcare and social service industries to address the issue of child poverty and advocate for policy changes and support systems.