Fast Food Companies Relying on Social Media to Target Younger Consumers

Kids are seeing fewer ads for fast food on television, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t targeted as consumers in other ways.

There are healthier options to go along with the fries and burgers — and even a slimmed down french fry, but a new study from the Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity says fast food restaurantsare still targeting young kids in marketing campaigns.

The report, called “Fast Food FACTS 2013″ follows-up the organization’s report from 2010. The researchers studied 18 of the top fast food chains in the U.S. and documented the changes in the nutritional quality of the food they served, as well as their marketing campaigns to kids and teens on TV and online.

Since 2010, kids between the ages of 6 to 11 saw 10% fewer TV ads for fast foods, and more of these ads included healthier meals, such as fruit snacks and salads.  http://news.yahoo.com/fast-food-companies-relying-social-media-target-younger-163606325.html