eh...just "x" it out

            If implemented correctly, marketing can be the difference between a successful or failing business venture. When advertisers tap into their target markets and are able to measure their success by an accurate reading of “traffic” through their websites companies can make money in droves. However, whether you are a teenager or a grown adult, more often than not the ads that cover the top, bottom, and sides of your web pages become more annoying rather than helpful. Within the text of chapter five we see the author Shayla Theil Stern, discuss the “moving pictures and flashy gimmicks that users may click on”. Companies believe that they can accurately measure the success of their advertisement based on how many clicks there were that brought users to the web pages. I don’t believe this is fully accurate because many people click on these web pages by accident. Another idea that was a topic within the chapter was the idea of “bots” or “chat robot/chatterbots” that work through programs like AIM. These are different interactive technological counterparts that engage in chat sessions with consumers or people with questions on a variety of topics. While some people might think this invention is a good idea, I believe that it would be more beneficial for the consumer or user to do his or her own research on any given topic. Some companies probably believe this saves them the manpower of having to staff someone behind the computer screen; the conversations might not have an organic flow to them. What it comes down to is that these ads appear to be more distracting and annoying rather than helpful and time saving. When I am on a specific web page or when I pull up a blank page to compose an email I rarely ever pay attention to the ads that trim the pages. On the flip side as I try to look at the reason behind such advertisements I understand that many web pages are made possible because of these advertisements that off set the costs it takes to run and public sites. Therefore, I can understand why such ads exist, but I find it hard to see these ads as helpful, especially to teenage girls. I know that this is a popular market to reach in the advertising world. Young females are very into their appearances, popularity, and building their persona. It should be vital that advertising companies posts ads that are helpful to young girls, rather than harmful. This is where digital literacy is very important for young girls and where they need to know the difference between garbage and the good stuff. 

-Melissa King