Advergames
By Jerri Simmons

Obesity is on the rise among children. The Kaiser Family Foundation studied advertises pitch food online to kids and found things every parent should know.

Parents should be aware children are playing more than the piano, the playstation, or regular online games for fun. Food companies are now luring kids online with advergames or webisodes.

These games allow kids to interact with candy bars, cereals and snack foods in an entertaining way. Two kids tried the advergames.

5th grader at Hickory Grove Elementary School Wesley said, “It sort of gave me the idea of how lucky charms got started and the origin of lucky charms. It kind of makes me want to keep eating lucky charms it was very entertaining.”

4th grade Stacey disagrees she said “I’m just still going to stay with the cereal I like to eat.”

According to the study advergames are less widespread than TV Commercials but involve children more deeply and for longer periods.

The study also found:

-75% of food web sites offer games

-About half of the websites encourage kids to email their friends about the food

-More than a quarter of sites let kids join to find out about new brands or exclusive offers

-But only half of those required permission.