FTC to Host Advertising Literacy Forum; Workshop Examines Kids in a Commercial World

The Federal Trade Commission staff will host a workshop on March 12, 2009 to gather input for its advertising literacy initiative, which will educate and empower tweens to be better informed consumers of information. This initiative seeks to raise awareness among tweens, or preadolescents, about advertising and marketing messages; improve their ability to read, analyze, and appreciate advertisements; and show them the benefits of being an informed consumer. The initiative addresses interest from Congress, researchers, parents, and consumer groups about kids as consumers in a commercial world.

At the workshop, experts on advertising and marketing to kids will discuss a range of issues, including what children experience in the commercial world, what they should know to navigate in it, and what they understand about their experiences. More information on the workshop will be available soon. It is free and open to the public, and it will be held at the FTC’s Satellite Building Conference Center, 601 New Jersey Avenue, NW, Washington, DC from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 1,500 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s Web site provides free information on a variety of consumer topics.

(FYI forum)