I have thought long about this. I apologize for length. I guess I was naive to think that we (society) had reached a point where we are aware of advertising, we are savvy when we are being sold to through commercials, print ads, and all the ways businesses try make us feel that by buying their product, our lives will be improved. Think of the marketing directed at housewives in the 1950. Buy this Hoover and your husband will love you more for being the perfect wife. Think of the blatant ads in the 80s targeting children and toys, or telling men that drinking their brand of beer will make the hot women flock to them. It seems so obvious now looking back.
I was hopeful for the next generation, because my children grew up “woke” to these tactics of subtle manipulation. They are media savvy, they know when they are being sold to via traditional media and are sceptical of commercials and ads. But social media has evolved into a new type of beast. Reaching more people than ever before at very little cost, while targeting specific types of people ruthlessly through platform algorithms. What we see playing out before us is more devious than ever because it it is so far reaching, and preys on people’s insecurities under the guise of “we are in this together.” It is the most toxic of relationships. It is unethical. And the ad standards that exist don’t have enough teeth, aren’t enforced with strong enough consequences. These brands know this and will continue to exploit it for as long as they can for one reason: profit. Sophie is just a cog in this machine that is bigger than her and bigger than any of us.
I am as frustrated as all of you. I could not care less what her hair looks like or what filter she uses. It’s the underhanded nature of being sold to that needs to change. I guess it’s no different than before, being sold a lifestyle, an ideal. But it is different in my mind because like I said, it is much more far reaching than ever before. And with very little cost (whereas before, print or tv ads were expensive and could be prohibitive to many) and no true consequence.
We can only do so much to shed light on this matter. The only way true change can happen on such a large scale is either if we all change our habits (not going to happen, especially as there are so many vulnerable people not realizing how badly they’ve been sucked in), or through proper ENFORCED legislation from governing bodies that can shut this down. We are being failed immensely on that front. Until then, all we can do is try to protect those dearest to us, our children family and friends, by exposing these tactics for what they are.
I guess for as long as there is money to be made, there will be those earning it honestly, and those who exploit others for their own gain.
Sorry this got long.
i cant stop laughing they are literally high heels !! Sophie probably doesnt let him be taller than her now seeing as she’s wearing socks on the photoshoot 
what kind of God awful tat have those two idiots come up with I do wonder 
another loungewear set with tacky ‘inspirational’ quotes? Yuck. Stay out of Primark Grinch! I don’t know if I could bring myself to shop there anymore with her stupid face plastered everywhere 
and the bony witch outstretched single finger pointing, poking and pinching every damn thing including her own baby is just hideous- the fact that the copy cats so obviously imitate these stupid mannerisms is laughable and embarrassing
