That was one of the biggest culture shocks when I lived in the States for 5 months. In Australia pharmaceutical companies aren’t allowed to advertise prescription unless it’s an approved over-the-counter like paracetamol that consumers can buy without a script.
Every second ad on the rare occasion I was watching TV was a prescription drug ad. Some of them were… clearly not aimed at me as a demographic category. The rapid fire side-effect list at the end also cracked me up! Thanks, but no thanks to the foot fungus cream of questionable efficacy that also causes anal bleeding and blindness.
It must work or otherwise drug companies wouldn’t bother paying for it and frankly, it’s a shrinking demographic given all the hypochondriac geriatric boomers are probably going to die from all the side effects of said meds before their time.
Also the Kidz music these days IS actual crap. My husband and I are ‘early-ish millennials ‘83 and ‘90 and have fond affection for the alt and indie rock scene up till about 2008 ish. That I think was the last time you could define a ‘sound’ for a generation. These days the algorithms have fragmented the market into such tiny niche upon niche, that no one can connect via music anymore, and the bands/artists that make it big are practically cults in their own right. I incredulously stood and watched in horror as my sister and her friends drunkenly wail Daryl Braithwaite’s ‘Horses’ every 30 minutes between the mindless doof doof at her 18th birthday party. It was the saddest music selection my ears have ever bled to.
That’s just my take having been discussing this with my younger siblings who straddle the millennial/gen z border.
I'm not sure I see a lot of evidence for that... First, the commercials don't address doctors, they address patients. Second, they are inventing previously non-existent ailments.
I think it's pretty clear they are trying to convince hypochondriacs that they are sick and get them to bully their doctors into prescribing their pill. My favorite example is Restless Leg Syndrome... but there are plenty.
That was one of the biggest culture shocks when I lived in the States for 5 months. In Australia pharmaceutical companies aren’t allowed to advertise prescription unless it’s an approved over-the-counter like paracetamol that consumers can buy without a script.
Every second ad on the rare occasion I was watching TV was a prescription drug ad. Some of them were… clearly not aimed at me as a demographic category. The rapid fire side-effect list at the end also cracked me up! Thanks, but no thanks to the foot fungus cream of questionable efficacy that also causes anal bleeding and blindness.
It must work or otherwise drug companies wouldn’t bother paying for it and frankly, it’s a shrinking demographic given all the hypochondriac geriatric boomers are probably going to die from all the side effects of said meds before their time.
Also the Kidz music these days IS actual crap. My husband and I are ‘early-ish millennials ‘83 and ‘90 and have fond affection for the alt and indie rock scene up till about 2008 ish. That I think was the last time you could define a ‘sound’ for a generation. These days the algorithms have fragmented the market into such tiny niche upon niche, that no one can connect via music anymore, and the bands/artists that make it big are practically cults in their own right. I incredulously stood and watched in horror as my sister and her friends drunkenly wail Daryl Braithwaite’s ‘Horses’ every 30 minutes between the mindless doof doof at her 18th birthday party. It was the saddest music selection my ears have ever bled to.
That’s just my take having been discussing this with my younger siblings who straddle the millennial/gen z border.
Agreed!
Don't even know where to start. If I tried to say what was funny, it would be recounting your whole article. Will check out Broken Hearts Club.
It’s a bit of a cult classic.
I am.laughing so hard at the racehorse's donkey analogy.....brilliant stuff as usual , Jake.
❤️
I'm not sure I see a lot of evidence for that... First, the commercials don't address doctors, they address patients. Second, they are inventing previously non-existent ailments.
I think it's pretty clear they are trying to convince hypochondriacs that they are sick and get them to bully their doctors into prescribing their pill. My favorite example is Restless Leg Syndrome... but there are plenty.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtKNiUD-vo4