Pediatrics group recommends changes in ED advertising

As part of a new policy statement, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that television ads for erectile dysfunction products be confined to after 10 pm.

In the policy statement, “Children, Adolescents, and Advertising,” the AAP outlines several recommendations to help mitigate advertising’s harmful effects, but says one simple solution would be to have children and adolescents become critical media viewers, also known as being media literate.

There is considerable evidence that birth control advertising could lower teen pregnancy rates even further without affecting teen sexual activity, according to the statement. However, when birth control advertising is rare on prime time TV, the AAP says it doesn’t make sense to allow ED drug ads that may confuse children and teens about human sexuality and make sexual activity seem like a “recreational sport.”