Admongo teaches kids about advertising through gameplay
May 11, 2010
BY BILL FERRIS
It’s amazing how pervasive advertising is in our culture. There are the obvious means — billboards, commercials, newspaper inserts — as well as the not-so-obvious channels, like logos on clothing, branded shopping bags, giveaway products, and lots more. Though advertising isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it’s important for students to recognize it for what it is — a message designed to persuade them to give someone else their money. Admongo, an online game from the Federal Trade Commission, takes students on a journey into a virtual tower that’s crawling with advertisements. Along the way, the game teaches kids exactly how they’re being marketed to, and how to recognize it when it’s happening.
