No matter where you look, it seems these days whatever can be politicised, IS politicised. 

 

Looking back to the 80’s I sometimes get jealous of decades of partying without a single political thought. But years of government neglect and growing division has left people more aware than ever, and more keen to push a political agenda however they can. But this makes you wonder..

 

Why are companies picking a side?

 

In her article about feminism in ads, Nosheen Iqbal noted that “the advertising industry, once bent on selling us sex now sell us its disgust with sexism” (Nosheen Iqbal 2015). Large corporation, in an attempt to sell more swayed by public preferences. Jumping on movements like ‘#metoo’, ‘#girlscan’ and Always’ ‘#Likeagirl’, to appeal to public interests, and it’s working.

 

The growing use of political advertising seems to show a clear message, people like it. 

The public are actually so supportive that “Nearly two-thirds (63%) of customers reward companies that are willing to stand on a current issue” (Jen Barrell 2018). Despite the risk of a disastrously made political advertisement, such as Youtubes annual rewind for 2018, receiving the most dislikes of any other video (Youtube 2018), advertisers see the benefit.

 

With risk calculated many consider the tentative support of political ads as ‘slacktivists’, people who are happy to click like on an environmental post but never create any REAL change. Such people have similar opinions to business, happy to buy a slightly more ‘green’ plastic straw, but ditch them all together? NO WAY!

 

It seems, like usually advertisers have done their homework and found the perfect balance of politics, and fun. Appealing to the majority through people's happiness to support, but not necessarily change.

 

But as this trend of advertising only grows, with more and more political messages in ads, we can only wait to see if there is any backlash, from any political side.