Ever since the advent of advertising, advocates of social change have called it a tool for corporations to shove their agendas down the throats of commoners. Movies like Fight Club have their entire plot built around the idea that advertising is an evil practice that creates a spiritual war inside society. However, advertising is not just about taking money from the poor to fill the pockets of the rich. It is a medium that enables visionary creative minds to broadcast their ideas onto people from all parts of the social hierarchy.

A well-crafted advertisement has the power to capture the attention of its audience in a bid to bring about some intended change. We’re all aware of shimmering billboards, and over-the-top TV ads that sell products and services. However, light needs to be shed on the fact that responsible advertising can advocate for a progressive society by bringing sensitive topics like climate change, human trafficking, racism, identity politics, gender inequality, and more into the limelight. Even though some social ads tend to be commercial in nature, it is great to see corporations talking about issues that the general public deeply cares about. Simply put, a social issue Ad not only allows creatives to use the power of advertising to captivate the masses, but it also helps in bringing about meaningful change in society.

Here are a few examples that reinforce the idea that when used with the right intent, advertisements can be much more money-making machines:-

IAA – Freedom Fighter
Let’s free our nation. One more time. #StopPollution. Issued in public interest by IAA.

NOAH – The fine art of exterminating an entire species.
Rhinos have survived predators, climate change and disease for 50 million years. But it’s Asia’s soaring demand for rhino horn that will doom them: every 14 hours a rhino is killed. Help us save the last rhinos.

Amnesty International – Sexual Abuse
Sometimes imagination is the only way. Every day two girls are victims of sexual abuse. We must denounce.

ActionAid – Non-equal rights
Up to 94% of brazilian women have to work at their jobs and at home. That’s 30 hours a month working more than men. And 24 hours a day of non-equal rights.

Children of the Street Society – Be careful what you agree to.
In Canada, Children of the Street Society reveals a shocking campaign to raise awareness of the danger of sharing intimate photos.

Absolut – Kiss With Pride
In Canada, homosexuality has been decriminalized since 1969 – but it still remains illegal in many countries. Absolut’s Kiss With Pride imagery celebrates people from several of those countries who kiss with pride. The campaign’s goal was to raise awareness of the fact that same-sex relationships are still illegal in 72 countries. We asked individuals from those countries to come together and portray human love and compassion at its most natural state – by uniting for a kiss.

Moms Demand Action For Gun Sense In America Red Riding Hood
We keep ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ out of schools because of the bottle of wine in her basket. Why not assault weapons?

Generations Against Bullying – Speak Up
Be strong and speak up. If you see someone being bullied, all you have to do is say something. Just getting involved in a nonthreatening way stops the bullying in less than 10 seconds 85% of the time. That’s the difference between a bystander and an upstander.

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