It's clear that when parents talk, companies listen. We can apply pressure in the public sphere (social media, blogs, etc.) and at the register, and it works. We got soda out of kids meals at Burger King, Wendy's, Applebee's and more. And industry bodies like the Corporate Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative are talking with advocates about how to make their own standards more robust.
Yet as any parent knows, sometimes the battles are a little bit more entrenched. My son continues to spit out his broccoli, and my daughter won't let anyone help her put on her shoes. But I'm not giving up. And I'm not giving up on Nickelodeon, either. It's time to up our game.
Earlier this week I presented the following statement on behalf of the Maryknoll Sisters, the Interfaith Campaign on Corporate Responsibility and MomsRising at the annual Viacom stockholder meeting:
My name is Karen Showalter and I represent the more than 1 million members of MomsRising.org. MomsRising is an online and on-the-ground grassroots organization working to achieve economic security for all families in the United States.I am also a mom, with a two and a six year old at home who enjoy watching your shows, and love Dora, Diego and many others.Today I am delivering signatures from over 10,000 moms and dads across the country who urge Nickelodeon to adopt strong nutrition standards for all of your child-directed media.Nickelodeon has a huge influence on children, including mine. A 2012 study found that 69% of Nickelodeon food ads sell junk food to kids.We are very concerned that Nickelodeon, unlike Disney, does not require all advertisers to meet nutrition guidelines. It's time for Nickelodeon to join Disney, Time Warner and others in the fight against childhood obesity.Sure, moms can just turn off the TV. But it's not just the TV. Ads are targeting our kids through games, product placement, clothing, the Internet, and much more. According to the American Psychological Association, "Most children under age 6 cannot distinguish between programming and advertising and children under age 8 do not understand the persuasive intent of advertising." Our children are literally sponges, vulnerable to marketing we can't even control.Please help moms and dads like us keep our kids and families healthy, by adopting strong nutrition standards for all of your child-directed media.As families, parents and consumers - we thank you.Karen Showalter, MomsRising.org
The company's response was vague and disappointing, essentially suggesting that: they're not the experts, companies are; and that they do work with companies that market healthy foods (carrots was mentioned). Of course, five seconds on Google reveals the following:
Ouch. Clearly, there's more to do. Join us this year as we keep the drumbeat going, and escalate our activities around Nickelodeon. If you haven't signed the petition yet, please do so here.
I know that one day my son will eat his veggies. I know my daughter will learn to put on her shoes. And I know companies like Nickelodeon will have no choice but to listen to parents.
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