text: is advertising is affecting our youth?   no and neither are violent video games or any of that other crap that some poeple say are corrupting us. kids will be exposed to things sooner or later. might as well teach them while their young, so that they know what is and what isnt bad and know how to be responsable in using that knowlage. if you tell a kid that pot is bad at age 5 he's less likely to try it. tell him at age 13 and chances are he already knows about it, has tried it, and since he's actually tried it and experienced it for himself he may decide whether or not he likes it. we should expose our kids to what really goes on, not lie to them and pretend that this world is such a lovely place... when its the opposite. i would say no advertising doesnt affect our youth, atleast not in a bad way. all it does is make us want things. expose your child so he knows whats out there, and knows how to deal with it before he's on his own