Fingering my brain

So I'm a Graphic Designer (in training). I've got a bunch of books on the different methods of catching someone's attention. Now they're not all called "How to trick people into buying shit", nor is that written in the foreword, but essentially that's what they are. Whether you're buying something physical or just buying into the idea, whenever you see something that's had design methods used in it, you're being sold something. Being anti-capitalism and a loud advocate of the individuals responsibility for themselves as of a certain age, this realisation was a bit disconcerting.


I've always been a bit intrigued by the "promoted" posts on Twitter and Facebook. Companies (or individuals) can promote their business page or posts, and they will appear on the Feed of someone who doesn't like the group already. There might be all sorts of things like your cookies involved that aim certain products at your page, but I'm not an expert in that.

The Reason this intrigues me is because, basically, I ignore all that shit! I feel a little victory over my own existence that it's not being influenced by Tresemmé or Amazon. I will not like your pages you cosmetic-pushing-unrealistic-idealistic-beauty-advocating-screwing-the-little-man-bus-wankers! I feel better about it. And I thought it was what a good chunk of the population did.

But then I have a real think about it, and think "Well.. they wouldn't do it if it didn't work, right?". Why would they continually pay to promote themselves if all everyone was doing was skipping straight past it. This leads me to the conclusion that people are just clicking like because it's there.

I know that advertising keeps the internet as free as possible. It keeps non profit websites alive, I know it's an aid to some good causes. But I'm seriously concerned when the most popular ads on the internet are "Lose 3 stone in a week!!" or "This stay at home mom earns $1500 a week!!" or the ever classy "Ugly girls need love too..".

If this shit works, there is a genuine method of advertising that goes along the lines of "Right. How can we attract/encourage passive interest  for this product. What's a new way that we can play off of the fact that the person we want to click on our ad, isn't really paying attention to what they're doing?" <<This right here, is companies spending money on the fact that you're not paying attention to everything that's being projected at you. You're not paying attention to what your brains absorbing. You let these things that you don't want or need penetrate your psychy and influence your thinking.

Essentially, what you need to do is arm yourself. Don't just idly scroll down your feed not really reading all the feed because its the same old that you read yesterday. Like a load of groups that share and reblog things that aren't in the mainstream news. If you see an ad, read it, then analyse it. They're trying to sell you something. Figure out what it is, then figure out if it's something you need. If it isn't, DON'T BUY IT!

Basically..