Latest news with #focusgroups
The Independent
5 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
Older people ‘bombarded' with ads for funerals, care homes and mobility aids
Older people say they are being 'bombarded' by campaigns for funeral services, care homes and mobility aids by 'out-of-touch' mainstream advertising, a study has found. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said more than a third of the UK population (35%) agreed that older people tended to be negatively stereotyped in ads, with other depictions such as forgetfulness, frailty or not being able to use technology also seen as potentially offensive. While not offensive, depictions such as older people always being wealthy or grumpy, or ads that showed them doing extreme and unrealistic activities, were found to be cliched and irritating. Almost half (49%) said ads using humour at the expense of older people were likely to cause offence. Some 44% believed that older people were either underrepresented or not represented at all in ads, particularly in categories like fashion, beauty, technology and household goods. Respondents also raised concerns about how ads were targeted, saying they felt 'bombarded' by promotions for end-of-life services such as funerals or cremations, life insurance and care homes. The ASA's report, based on focus groups and a survey of 4,000 UK adults, said older people were not only living longer but also continuing to lead full, active lives, contributing to workplaces, families, communities and the economy for longer. However, many of those surveyed said that advertising too often painted a 'very different and outdated picture'. The watchdog said ads showing older people as lonely, purposeless or powerless could be harmful – especially for those aged 75 and over, for whom these portrayals reinforced fears about ageing and social isolation. It also flagged beauty ads that suggested ageing must be 'fought' as potentially harmful. In particular, women aged 65 and over recognised the potential for these ads to cause harm to the self-esteem of women of all ages. The ASA said the findings suggested the ad industry may be 'out of touch' with the reality of ageing. Instead, the public wanted advertising to focus on individuals rather than their age, and portray a diverse range of later-life experiences. The ASA said: 'When ads show older people as vibrant, capable and real, they help rewrite the story of ageing and how we perceive older generations. 'Not only this, but older people represent a significant market with substantial spending power, making them a vital audience for brands that want to stay relevant. 'While we're not currently proposing any new rules, we're hoping that by sharing this research, advertisers will understand how some portrayals of older people are landing with the public today – and where there may be unintended consequences.' Kam Atwal, research lead at the ASA, said: 'As a society, we're living longer, richer and more varied lives. 'Our research reveals that some of today's portrayals of older people in advertising are not being received positively, and that the public want ads to better reflect the varied lives older people lead today. 'This is a real opportunity for brands to embrace the true diversity of later life and take a leading role in challenging outdated perceptions.' Harriet Bailiss, co-head of the Age Without Limits campaign, run by the Centre for Ageing Better charity, said: 'We really welcome this excellent report from the ASA. 'We live in a society where ageism is the most common form of discrimination. We should all want that to end and we all have a role to play in making that happen. 'Advertising has such a powerful influence on society and can help bring about that change and be a force for good, as it has already been for changing other outdated perceptions.'
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Older people ‘bombarded' with ads for funerals, care homes and mobility aids
Older people say they are being 'bombarded' by campaigns for funeral services, care homes and mobility aids by 'out-of-touch' mainstream advertising, a study has found. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said more than a third of the UK population (35%) agreed that older people tended to be negatively stereotyped in ads, with other depictions such as forgetfulness, frailty or not being able to use technology also seen as potentially offensive. While not offensive, depictions such as older people always being wealthy or grumpy, or ads that showed them doing extreme and unrealistic activities, were found to be cliched and irritating. Almost half (49%) said ads using humour at the expense of older people were likely to cause offence. Some 44% believed that older people were either underrepresented or not represented at all in ads, particularly in categories like fashion, beauty, technology and household goods. Respondents also raised concerns about how ads were targeted, saying they felt 'bombarded' by promotions for end-of-life services such as funerals or cremations, life insurance and care homes. The ASA's report, based on focus groups and a survey of 4,000 UK adults, said older people were not only living longer but also continuing to lead full, active lives, contributing to workplaces, families, communities and the economy for longer. However, many of those surveyed said that advertising too often painted a 'very different and outdated picture'. The watchdog said ads showing older people as lonely, purposeless or powerless could be harmful – especially for those aged 75 and over, for whom these portrayals reinforced fears about ageing and social isolation. It also flagged beauty ads that suggested ageing must be 'fought' as potentially harmful. In particular, women aged 65 and over recognised the potential for these ads to cause harm to the self-esteem of women of all ages. The ASA said the findings suggested the ad industry may be 'out of touch' with the reality of ageing. Instead, the public wanted advertising to focus on individuals rather than their age, and portray a diverse range of later-life experiences. The ASA said: 'When ads show older people as vibrant, capable and real, they help rewrite the story of ageing and how we perceive older generations. 'Not only this, but older people represent a significant market with substantial spending power, making them a vital audience for brands that want to stay relevant. 'While we're not currently proposing any new rules, we're hoping that by sharing this research, advertisers will understand how some portrayals of older people are landing with the public today – and where there may be unintended consequences.' Kam Atwal, research lead at the ASA, said: 'As a society, we're living longer, richer and more varied lives. 'Our research reveals that some of today's portrayals of older people in advertising are not being received positively, and that the public want ads to better reflect the varied lives older people lead today. 'This is a real opportunity for brands to embrace the true diversity of later life and take a leading role in challenging outdated perceptions.' Harriet Bailiss, co-head of the Age Without Limits campaign, run by the Centre for Ageing Better charity, said: 'We really welcome this excellent report from the ASA. 'We live in a society where ageism is the most common form of discrimination. We should all want that to end and we all have a role to play in making that happen. 'Advertising has such a powerful influence on society and can help bring about that change and be a force for good, as it has already been for changing other outdated perceptions.'
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How To Earn $750 a Week in Passive Income
If using your spare time to earn good money with minimal effort sounds like a dream gig, it probably is. That's mainly because it's more dream than reality. But there are ways to earn a tidy income via your side gig — $750 a week or more — that don't require a huge investment of time and energy. Read Next: Consider This: Before getting to that, though, know what not to do. As the Best Life website reported last year, some side hustle promotions promise more than they can deliver. These often involve focus group websites that purportedly pay $75 to $150 an hour for testing products online. The problem is, that some of these sites merely connect you to surveys that 'may or may not be trustworthy,' according to Scott Lieberman, personal finance expert and founder of Touchdown Money. 'Personally, I've been in focus groups and made money,' Lieberman told BestLife. 'But the problem is exactly what you think it is: Everyone wants this easy money, so there aren't enough opportunities to go around.' Let's dig a little deeper into how to make some weekly passive income. But certain options provide a legitimate shot at earning $750 a week. Tom Blake, founder of This Online World, recommends focus group websites such as User Interviews and 'Both companies also connect participants with research studies and focus groups,' Blake told Best Life. 'The main difference is studies pay participants, and payments are processed through each website, so you're making money with each platform. Plus, both websites have opportunities paying $50 to $100 per hour or even more, so they're quite lucrative.' Consider This: If you want to pad your income with a side gig, here are some other ways to earn up to $750 a week in passive income: Online reseller: As previously reported by GOBankingRates, you can earn an average of $40 an hour reselling items on platforms such as eBay and Craigslist — or apps like Poshmark. The key is to find bargains on items you have expertise in and then resell them at a profit. Lead generation specialist: Companies and business development teams hire these specialists to find, qualify and generate leads. It's a gig that pays an average of $31.86 an hour. Consultant: If you have built up expertise in an area with heavy demand you can earn an average of $100 an hour as a consultant. This typically involves reviewing an organization's processes and providing advice on how to improve them. There is a particularly high demand for IT consultants. Advertise on your car: Some companies are willing to pay you just to put their ads on your car, which means you earn money for doing something you do anyway. You can earn hundreds of dollars a month just for driving around. Rental income: Renting out a room (or remodeled basement or garage) is a popular way to earn passive income. Just make sure you properly vet all applicants. It's also good to consult a legal/property management expert for a lease covering all the bases. More From GOBankingRates 7 Things You'll Be Happy You Downsized in Retirement The 10 Most Reliable SUVs of 2025 Sources Best Life, Side Hustle Pro Shares 'Super Simple' Way to Make $750 a Week Scott Lieberman, Touchdown Money Tom Blake, This Online World This article originally appeared on How To Earn $750 a Week in Passive Income Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
