Philip Morris Companies, the tobacco giant behind Marlboro, owned Lunchables for 23 years and used cigarette research strategies to shape the brand.
- Internal documents show Philip Morris shared scientists, technology, and product development methods across its tobacco, food, and alcohol divisions, with Lunchables serving as a model example of that strategy.
- Lunchables was engineered to appeal to kids’ desire for autonomy and to ease mothers’ guilt, using the same consumer psychology approach Philip Morris developed for cigarettes.
- Researchers say tobacco-style regulations, including warning labels, taxes, and restrictions on child-focused marketing, may be worth applying to ultraprocessed foods like Lunchables.
After the rage… Well duh? Obviously.
Advertising is all about human psychology whether they be adults or kids. Does anyone expect an advertising agency to dismiss all research on adults and start from the ground up targeting kids? That’s not how innovation (that hurt to type in this context) works; we build on previous work.
I bet the same principals work for Facebook/Instagram/Tiktok and thousands of independent ad agencies derived the same conclusions through different means. Because it’s Philip Morris, should they be the one prohibited from marketing other brands they own?
I am no analysis/therapist, but if I were I’d combine those titles somehow. Theralysis? No…
Anyway, I do highly recommend (for those that haven’t) investing the time and watching The Century of the Self by Adam Curtis. It is very illuminating as to how we’ve arrived where we are now with regards to propaganda and advertising which are rooted in the same psychological underpinnings.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Century_of_the_Self
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJ3RzGoQC4s
It appears to be on Netflix, as well.
Therapist/analysts are typically referred to as analrapists.
I don’t have time to watch this now, but I got as far as, “propaganda is kind of a dirty word now because of Germany, so I had to come up with a new way to call it something.” That’s where Public Relations comes from. It seems like a great watch.
I consider this required viewing for everyone. Hope you find the time to finish it. It is four hours and very much worth the time.
I definitely will. Thanks for posting.
I’m here to just say it is worth your time. This and Hypernormalization are Adam Curtis’ best works. IMO.