Children - A New Advertising Medium?

Buyjake.com is a website set up by a mother who thinks her child is so cute that companies will want to put their logos on his clothing or him for $100 000 a year. “I will dress in your company’s provided apparel (and sport a tattoo!) everywhere I go for the amount of time chosen. Want me to do a commercial?  How about a public appearance?  I’ll do that too.** All advertising must be pre-approved by Mom (nothing distasteful).” (Buy Jake.com) If this isn’t child exploitation I don’t know what is. CNN did an interview with mom and Jake, but it hasn’t been aired yet. It starts off as a human interest piece and then moves to heavily quoting a child psychiatrist on the dangers associated with exposing your children to this. A company called perfectpopcorn.com, has actually offered Jake $350 for a month’s worth of wearing their clothing. “Here is what Tim Farina, President & CEO of Javanni Inc. has to say about Baby Jake: In today’s creative world of advertising we not only need to know our customers but we need to find creative ways of reaching them to deliver our message. I believe advertising with Baby Jake would be beneficial to our consumer DVD transfer business at http://www.PerfectPopcorn.com. The BuyJake approach reaches our demographic and gets attention. I’m impressed.” (BuyJake.com)