The GVH Digital Awareness Program helps you recognize the tricks used by advertisements to influence you

In the digital space, on TV, and during gaming, children are increasingly targeted by advertisements. These ads are often misleading, using tricks to influence their decisions, pushing them to purchase products or services they don’t actually need. One goal of the GVH Digital Awareness Program is to help children recognize how ads manipulate them (e.g., by creating urgency), and how these tactics try to influence decisions when buying a product or service.

What tricks do ads use to manipulate us?

• Urgency and FOMO (“fear of missing out”)

“Only 2 items left!”, “10 people are viewing this product right now!” – these phrases pressure us to make quick purchase decisions. Often, it’s just a trick: the countdown resets, and the stock remains unchanged.

• Hidden costs

A product may appear cheap at first, but by the end of checkout, packaging fees, insurance, or handling charges are added, making the final price much less favorable.

• “Free” offers

A “free trial period” is often a trap: if we’re not careful, the subscription starts automatically, and money is deducted from our card. Unsubscribing is often made intentionally difficult.

• Consumer reviews – always reliable?

Reviews are increasingly influential when making purchase decisions. However, some are fake, often generated by AI-driven bots. Be cautious if nearly everyone gives 5 stars, if the text is overly generic (“Nice product”), or if there are repetitive, error-filled sentences.

• Hidden advertising – by influencers

When an influencer recommends their “favorite” product, it feels personal and trustworthy. But it may actually be a paid promotion, which they are legally obliged to disclose since it affects consumer decisions.

As part of the Digital Awareness Program, GVH experts cover misleading ads in detail during interactive lectures. The free program is open for continuous registration. On the GVH website you can find a program description, guides, and advice for both students and teachers. On the GVH Podcast channel, a discussion presents details of the program and shares experiences so far.

AI is an unavoidable topic among young people, so GVH has launched a national competition for 5th–8th grade students. It gives children the opportunity to directly express their views, feelings, and ideas about the future of artificial intelligence. Entries can include presentations, short videos, or posters.

GVH also emphasizes business education, therefore it will host a professional conference titled Digital Consumer Protection 2025 on September 25, 2025. The main topics will include artificial intelligence, so-called dark patterns, and influencer marketing.