Families count adverts they spot on the school run

Families have been asked to record the different kinds of adverts they see on the school run in a new campaign looking at the affect they have on children.

Charlotte Gage, who is helping lead the project, said it will help researchers understand the volume of messages children are exposed to, the impact they have and what they could be replaced with.

Ms Gage said there is "very little data" on what adverts are on the streets.

Anna Bryher who took part in the project said her children noticed an ad with donuts in it and they spoke about sweets that are being used for Halloween adverts.

"I think everybody should be concerned about our public spaces and calling for community ownership over what we see and do on our streets," she said.

"My kids think an advert is something to make people buy stuff, but I don’t think they understand the untold things they're doing to their heads.

"Placing ideas of what is normal and what is desirable into their minds before we get to talk.

"It's the ones that are fashion ads or about processed foods and cars that I really don't like."

A majority of billboards in Bristol are owned by private companies.

Most street advertising units and bus stops are owned or contracted out to advertising companies by Bristol City Council.

"Children are saturated by advertising all the time and that’s so normalised and the products they’re seeing are normalised, even if they might be harmful to people and the planet," Ms Gage said.

She said street advertising "can't be turned off like ads online or on TV".

"We have very little data on what is on the streets, so it’s very useful to see what’s out there."

Adfree Cities said it will roll out the Adspotters project in more cities this year.

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