What is a subliminal
message? A subliminal message is something that only your unconscious mind
notices. The word subliminal comes from the word “limen,” which is another term
for “threshold. They are messages that
convey words, pictures, or sounds that are used in television or radio
commercials, television shows or movies, print ads or recorded music. Usually
when subliminal messages are seen or heard, they are not detected and they’re
not recognized for what they really are. Actually, they will most likely be
ignored by your conscious brain and be beyond the level of conscious
perception. There have been many studies about subliminal messages and how they
work and if they manipulate consumers. “But Shell is only the latest blue-chip company to conclude
that the secret to a healthy bottom line lies not in tracking surveys or usage
studies, but in the murky depths of the consumer unconscious.” The idea and use of these messages has been
around since the late 19th century, and by the mid 20th century, the use of
subliminal messaging in advertising was considered standard fare and companies
were able to use them in advertising, especially visual messages where
something would flash for a split second on a screen that would subliminally
convince the viewer to act in a certain way. Consumers and people became
utterly afraid these messages being used could “brainwash” themselves or
others. The fear became so large and overwhelming that by the 1970s, the US
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) made the use of subliminal messaging in
advertising illegal. “When they own the consumer mind — when they create such a perfect
fit with her underlying identity needs — they become that much more powerful ...
It’s fascinating to see how far companies have come in recognizing that.” There is still “subliminal advertising” in
today’s companies, but they are a form of manipulation in logos. “I don’t think the market has
ever been so flooded with brands. Companies realize that if they can’t own a
piece of the consumer’s mind, they won’t make it today.” Subliminal messages are used in social media because they are a way to
help sway consumers, unknowingly, to buy and purchase certain products. To get
consumers to behave in the way companies want, it has to start in the consumers
mind. Once the idea has been planted in your mind, you find a lack of something
or a positive emotional association with a product or action can help motivate
consumers to carry out these actions. Without being aware of it, besides being motivated by influences from
our surroundings, the way we perceive the world around us can change instantly.
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