The present article studies junk food advertising in the media and its impact on children who make an important audience for these advertisements and their products. Recent studies have shown that children spend more time on their computers or exposed to other media than doing other activities. Studies have also found a connection between children’s exposure to the media and commercials, and their consumption of junk food. Moreover, Studies emphasized the raise of obesity and other health issues among children and teenagers as a consequence of their high exposure to junk food commercials. While considering all these negative consequences, isn’t it wiser to ban junk food ads?

The question of banning these commercials remains a subject of debate between supporters and objectors, those who think that the ads are dangerous for children who use them while being unaware of their implicit messages and their objectives, and the others who support the idea that the ads as well as the products they advertise are doing more good than harm and then should be allowed in the media. These positions stand for different ethical doctrines.

- Providing help and assistance: While we know it may be harmful and bad for health, we also know that fast food is part of the modern life. Nowadays, life is fast, and people don’t have time to prepare all daily meals we used to have in the past. Fast food is providing practical solutions for busy people who do have neither the time nor the money to get healthy food on a regular basis that suits their quick rhythm of life. Fast food provides a practical solution at an affordable cost. As for the health issue, it is maybe preferable to consume it occasionally. As for children, parents should be careful about what their children eat and also pay attention to what they watch. It is advisable that parents raise the awareness of their children about this food and about the commercials they watch.

- Universal prosperity: Today the food industry is produced by a large number of big companies that hold an important share of national and international markets. It is responsible for an important part of production of goods within countries and contributes to the creation of wealth within the countries. It also provides job opportunities and plays an important role in the economic prosperity and universal welfare. Therefore, banning junk food ads and products will lead to an important economic loss that may result in harm as well. Moreover, we should keep in mind that nobody is obliged to consume junk food if they do not want.

The values discussed above defend many perspectives. While sometimes they seem to agree, they are also in conflict very often. The actors involved in the debate are first the children, their needs and interests, their parents as responsible and protectors of the welfare of their children, the junk food companies and also the media workers who manage the programs diffused on TV, internet... Each of these actors contributes actively in the ethical dilemma and is able to provide solutions by regulating their actions towards a consensus that leads to a balanced situation. Junk food companies can regulate their production and aim it towards aware audiences instead of targeting children that blindly consume products. Parents can watch over their children while letting them a space of freedom, by adopting a more advising attitude than a restrictive one. Children and teenagers can understand the importance of the media literacy and accept their parents’ guidance as a means of freedom and not regard it as a restriction. Media workers may put restrictions on the ads addressed to children and avoid diffusing those that hold deceptive messages.