Consuming Kids… 1) How have new technologies like the internet, iPods, cell phones, and 24-hour children’s TV programming made children more available – and vulnerable – to commercial messages? 2) Do you think it’s reasonable to believe that people can be transformed, from the earliest ages, into “life-long consumers”? Do you feel that there are, or should be, societal or moral reservations about marketers approaching children at such early ages?

3. How does branding beloved children’s characters serve the interests of marketers? How does this process work, specifically? What kind of psychological, social, or behavioral impact do you think this might have on the targeted child? 4. Do you feel the government should oversee and regulate these advertising methods, and place some limits on advertisers? If so, why? And what types of regulations do you think could fairly be put in place? If not, why not? Why might you support regulations in other areas (regulations against children drinking, smoking, etc.) but not in this case?

5) What types of values are being sold to children in commercial culture? What role do you think marketing has played in shaping children’s values and aspirations? 6) What are the effects of material values on children, their relationships, and society more generally?