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The difference between public relations and advertising is “one of control. Advertising is
controlled communication– advertisers pay for ads to appear in specific media exactly as they
want; it is paid media” and “PR tends to be less controlled; it is earned media” (Baran, et al., p.
274).
Advertisements interact with many different categories such as government, the
workplace, customers, communities, etc. In an article written by it states that, “technological
innovations have given the advertising industry digital and automatic tools that enable
advertisers to automate many advertising processes and produce “synthetic ads,” or ads
comprising content based on the artificial and automatic production and modification of data”
(Campbell, et al., 2022). It honestly freaks me out that ads pop up in my news feed of what I
have previously looked at online. It reminds me that my devices have a mind of their own, and
that I am being monitored by what I search/look at. For instance, on apps such as TikTok and
Instagram; whatever I like most or search, similar videos/pictures pop up on the rest of my feed
the more I scroll. This is because devices pay attention to what you are interested in, and that
changes the algorithm of things that you are viewing on your feed.
1. What is the difference between public relations and advertising?
2. Why are we seeing so many ads in so many new and different places? Do you often wonder
why products or services you have recently searched for online show up as advertisements in
your news feed? How is that happening?
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However in my experience, I have come across a handful of false advertising. Recently, I
purchased a pair of boots from an advertisement, and they looked completely different from the
picture. At that moment, I was greatly disappointed since I was looking forward to wearing them.
I felt the need to send an email to customer service complaining about my dissatisfaction with
my order, however God states in Luke 6:31, “ Do to others as you would have them do to you”
which reminds me that it was not the customer service representative’s fault, and that I should
speak my honest feelings with kindness, as I wish to receive back from them.
Shopping has evolved so much over time, especially since the pandemic. Online
shopping has become an extremely handy tool that is easily accessible for most, which has also
been very convenient. A lot of people don’t want to have to worry about the hassle of crowds
and/traffic, so they turn to online stores. I find myself shopping online more than going into
stores, unless it's for getting things such as groceries.
3. How do you see the future of shopping changing as a result of the Internet?
Consider everything from products from around the world to getting your groceries or your pet
supplies.
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Bibliography
Baran, S. J. (2022). Introduction to mass communication. McGraw Hill.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%206%3A31&version=NIV.
Colin Campbell, Kirk Plangger, Sean Sands & Jan Kietzmann (2022) Preparing for an
Era of Deepfakes and AI-Generated Ads: A Framework for Understanding Responses to
Manipulated Advertising, Journal of Advertising, 51:1, 22-38, DOI:
10.1080/00913367.2021.1909515.
