Ielts Academic Writing Task 2 Sample 72

Advertising influences people’s behavior and preferences. Some argue that advertising promotes consumerism and materialism, while others believe it provides valuable information about products and services. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Advertising indeed wields significant influence over people’s behavior and preferences, with contrasting perspectives on its effects.

Supporters of advertising argue that it serves as a vital tool for informing consumers about products and services, helping them make informed purchasing decisions. Advertisements provide valuable information about product features, pricing, and availability, empowering consumers to compare options and choose products that best meet their needs and preferences. Moreover, advertising can stimulate competition among businesses, leading to innovation, improved quality, and better customer service.

However, critics contend that advertising promotes consumerism and materialism, encouraging individuals to prioritize the acquisition of material possessions and equating consumption with happiness and success. Advertisements often depict idealized lifestyles and unrealistic beauty standards, fostering feelings of inadequacy and perpetuating societal pressures to conform to narrow norms of success and desirability. Moreover, excessive consumption driven by advertising can have detrimental environmental consequences, contributing to resource depletion, pollution, and waste.

In my opinion, while advertising can provide valuable information about products and services, its pervasive influence on consumer behavior warrants caution. It is essential to critically evaluate advertisements and consider their intentions, messages, and potential impacts on individuals and society. Advertisers should strive for transparency, authenticity, and social responsibility in their marketing practices, prioritizing ethical considerations and promoting meaningful connections with consumers. Additionally, consumers should cultivate media literacy skills to navigate the persuasive tactics employed in advertising and make informed choices aligned with their values and aspirations. By striking a balance between informative and responsible advertising, we can harness its potential to benefit both businesses and consumers while minimizing negative societal impacts such as consumerism and materialism.

Note: This is a sample answer, and there can be many other views and sentences used to write the answer.