In the United States, we live in a promotional culture. Promotional culture basically refers to the constant stream of consumer advertising dominating mass media content and public space (such as highways and streets).

We take advertising and its constant presence in our lives for granted, but all things considered, it is a phenomenon that has barely been around for a century and is very much a product of capitalist values and objectives. Advertising has become so dominant and mainstream that what originally was conceived to bolster the coffers of different industries has become an industry within itself.

We find it easy to conceive why advertising is so commonplace because it seems natural that every company and business wants you to consume their product on offer. But what we don't realize is that advertising is responsible for the creation of false needs. The concept of false needs is defined as the fabrication or imposition of consumer wants (needs) as determined by mass media, advertising, and economic corporations in the promotion of particular consumer lifestyles; and which consumers falsely feel as authentically theirs.

It is of paramount importance that we start to shift our perception of the advertising industry towards one of mistrust and skepticism because the goals of the industry are not in our best interests, and one could argue, firmly against them. Advertising is an essential component of maintaining our superficial, consumer culture, coercing us to want things when we don't need them.

The non-stop consumption advertising breeds are ingrained into us from a young age as I can attest to as I always wanted the newest LEGO set I saw in the LEGO catalogs or even now I want new cleats when I have ones that are functioning just fine.

Look at every advertisement with doubt from now on, realize that their sole goal is to get you to consume something you don't need by convincing you that you do in fact need it. Ads will prey on your emotions, your interests, your beliefs and your weaknesses all to get you to reach into your wallet and bolster the bottom line of an economic corporation. Does that seem natural to you?