10th March 2022 from The National Tribune.
Using novel computational and machine learning methods, researchers from The Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE) and The University of Queensland (UQ) have started a three-year study to better understand how young people are targeted by alcohol companies via social media.
This research comes as investigations by Reset Australia found that Facebook tags children as interested in alcohol, approves alcohol advertisements targeted to children, and continues to harvest children’s data to target them with advertising.
UQ, Lead Chief Investigator, Associate Professor Nicholas Carah said the new study is using revolutionary technology to better understand the digital marketing practices of alcohol companies. He continues: “digital marketing by alcohol companies is rapidly growing, particularly across social media platforms. A lot of this marketing is targeted at people based on their personal data, and we know young people are being exposed to alcohol advertising”.
Researchers believe that by revealing what’s behind the curtain and showing the hidden tactics used by alcohol marketers, they will present insights evidence-based to understand and effectively governing alcohol marketing in the digital age.
FARE Senior Policy and Research Advisor, Dr Aimee Brownbill, said that by spotlighting the predatory digital marketing tactics of alcohol companies we can put measures in place that protect the health and wellbeing of young people.
She also added that this research will help them better understand the ways that alcohol companies target young people and measures than can be introduced to prevent this.
To read the full article click on the following link: https://www.nationaltribune.com.au/new-research-to-explore-digital-marketing-tactics-by-alcohol-companies-to-target-young-people/