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Subject: Upcoming food marketing opportunities and new research

Digital Junk Food Marketing and Youth of Color Tweet Chat
Date: Thursday, April 17th
Time: 2 pm EDT
How to Join: Use the hashtag #DigitalAds to join the conversation

Digital Ads, an initiative jointly run by the Center for Digital Democracy (@DigitalDemoc) and the Berkeley Media Studies Group (@BMSG), is hosting a tweet chat on how junk food marketers target youth of color in digital media. For more information, check out www.digitalads.org or follow @DigitalAdsOrg.

New Research on Fast Food Marketing
A new study<http://archpedi.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1852608> by Dartmouth researchers found that fast food companies' attempts to depict healthier kids' meals in their advertising frequently goes unnoticed <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tl9uHUeWztY&feature=youtu.be> by children.

Model Facebook Post
Despite fast-food companies’ attempts to bolster their public image by depicting healthier kids’ meals in their child-targeted TV ads, a new study shows kids hardly notice the healthy foods. Fast-food company kid-targeted ads focus on the toys and going to the restaurant, where most of the other choices are unhealthy. Restaurants need to do a better job telling kids about and serving healthier options. http://bit.ly/1fLrAXe

Model Tweet
New study finds kids hardly see healthy items in fast food ads. Restaurants should do more to tell kids a/b healthy options http://bit.ly/1fLrAXe

A SpongeBob-Free Easter
We’re all for celebrating holidays, but do kids need SpongeBob to make the holiday special? Kids like candy enough without Nickelodeon urging them to eat more. Please tell Nickelodeon to stop licensing its characters to junk food companies and adopt a comprehensive policy on food marketing to children. Below are a few model Facebook posts and tweets to get involved. And check out CSPI's Pinterest board<http://www.pinterest.com/cspinutrition/a-healthier-way-to-celebrate/> for ideas on how to make your holiday festive without junk food!

Model Facebook Post
Parents, not SpongeBob, are in the best position to decide what their children should eat and drink. Yet entertainment companies like Nickelodeon use their characters to promote junk food to kids especially around holidays. Nickelodeon should help parents, not undermine them, when it comes to feeding children healthfully. http://bit.ly/Nick-Junk-Food (photo is attached)

Model Tweet
Parents, not @SpongeBob, should decide how kids celebrate #Easter. @NickelodeonTV: stop promoting junk food to kids! http://bit.ly/PNKfeE