The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has launched an online game designed to educate eight to twelve year olds on the ins and outs of advertising.
Admongo.gov is free to play and offers four levels, which each serve up a special lesson for kids: The Atrium has users identify ads around them, the Assemblimator shows kids how to dissect an ad and evaluate its claims, the Planadtarium revolves around ad targeting while the Adgitator allows them to build and target their own ads.
“Today’s kids see advertising everywhere – in movies and TV shows, outdoors, on phones, in games,” said David C. Vladeck, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “That’s why it’s important to teach them how to apply critical thinking skills to the ads they see.
The Admongo site also offers up a curriculum, developed with Scholastic, Inc., that teachers can use with 5th and 6th grade students.
