📚 Topic Summary
Unethical marketing involves strategies that are deceptive, manipulative, or harmful to consumers. These practices often exploit vulnerabilities or use misinformation to persuade people into making purchases they might later regret. Being able to identify these tactics is crucial for protecting yourself from financial harm and making informed decisions as a student and beyond.
🍎 Part A: Vocabulary
Match the term with its correct definition:
| Term |
Definition |
| 1. Bait and Switch |
A. Making exaggerated claims about a product's performance or benefits. |
| 2. False Advertising |
B. Promoting a product at a low price to attract customers, then trying to sell them a more expensive item. |
| 3. Pyramid Scheme |
C. Marketing or promoting that something is environmentally friendly when it's not. |
| 4. Greenwashing |
D. A fraudulent system of making money based on recruiting an ever-increasing number of 'investors.' |
| 5. Exaggeration |
E. Using false or misleading statements in advertising. |
(Answers: 1-B, 2-E, 3-D, 4-C, 5-A)
✍️ Part B: Fill in the Blanks
Complete the following paragraph using the words provided: misleading, vulnerable, transparency, ethical, pressure.
______ marketing practices take advantage of ______ consumers, especially when they lack information or are under ______. Building ______ and maintaining an ______ approach is vital for companies.
(Answers: Unethical, vulnerable, pressure, transparency, ethical)
🤔 Part C: Critical Thinking
Think about an advertisement you've seen recently. What made you trust (or distrust) the message? How could the company have improved its marketing to be more ethical?