Kids See Thousands of Unhealthy Food and Beverage Ads Per Year on Social Media, New Study Finds

The study looked at the most popular social media apps that kids and teens (ages 7-16 years) access using smartphones and tablets: Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, YouTube. It found kids are exposed to food marketing on their favourite social media apps 111 times a week on average, equating to 5772 food and beverage ads per year on those apps alone. Image: Uki_71, Pixabay

OTTAWA -- New research commissioned by Heart & Stroke reveals three-quarters of children in Canada are exposed to food marketing while using their favourite social media applications. The majority of these ads are for ultra-processed foods and beverages high in fat, salt or sugar.

Also read, Canadians Are Still Consuming Too Much Salt, According to New Health Canada Report.

The study looked at the most popular social media apps that kids and teens (ages 7-16 years) access using smartphones and tablets: Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, YouTube. It found kids are exposed to food marketing on their favourite social media apps 111 times a week on average, equating to 5772 food and beverage ads per year on those apps alone. Even though some of these apps in theory require users to be at least 13 years old, younger children are using them and it is clear from the elements in the ads, including use of celebrities, that kids are being targeted.

"Our research shows that kids are frequently exposed to food and beverage ads and most of the products are considered to be unhealthy," says Dr. Monique Potvin Kent, an assistant professor at the University of Ottawa and author of the study. "This level of exposure may greatly influence children's perception of a normal diet as well as their food preferences and the foods they actually consume."

The companies promoted most frequently were McDonald's (15%) followed by Starbucks (11%), PepsiCo (9%), Mars (5%), Coca-Cola (5%) and Restaurant Brand International (5%). The most frequently promoted food categories were fast food (44%), sugar sweetened beverages (9%), candy and chocolates (7%), snacks (6%) and alcohol (5%).

A second study examined food and beverage marketing on free gaming apps, showing kids see an average of 145 ads per year, over half of which were for ultra-processed foods and beverages high in fat, salt or sugar.

"It's positive that the food and beverage industry is mostly steering clear of advertising on free gaming apps however, they are still targeting children with unhealthy food advertising where they congregate online. They're focusing their marketing efforts on social media apps because they know kids are using these platforms," says Dr. Potvin Kent.

The report is available at: https://www.heartandstroke.ca/what-we-do/media-centre/news-releases/news-release-want-to-market-junk-food-to-kids-there-are-apps-for-that

SOURCE Heart and Stroke Foundation