title: Unhealthy food marketing to New Zealand children and adolescents through the internet.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the extent and nature of unhealthy food marketing to New Zealand children and adolescents through the internet.
  
  
  METHODS
  Internet traffic data for January 2014 was purchased from AC Nielsen to identify the most popular websites (n=110) among children and adolescents aged 6-17 years. In addition, websites (n=70) of food and beverage brands most frequently marketed to children through television, sports, magazines and Facebook were included. Marketing techniques and features on those websites were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The extent of food marketing on popular non-food websites was low. A wide range of marketing techniques and features was, however, identified on food brand websites, including advercation (87%), viral marketing (64%), cookies (54%), free downloadable items (43%), promotional characters (39%), designated children's sections (19%) and advergaming (13%). Most techniques appeared more frequently on websites specifically targeting children and adolescents, than on other websites targeting the general public.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared to traditional media, the internet allows food marketers to use engaging techniques to directly interact with children. While the range of marketing techniques and features identified on food brand websites was extensive, the most popular websites among children and adolescents were non-food related, and the extent of food marketing on those websites was found to be low. Additional assessment of food marketing to children through social and other digital media is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Senior Research Fellow, University of Auckland, Auckland.
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vandevijvere
authors.affiliation: Honours Student, University of Auckland, Auckland.
authors.forename: Karuna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sagar
authors.affiliation: Senior Research Fellow, University of Wollongong, Australia.
authors.forename: Bridget
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.affiliation: Professor, University of Auckland, Auckland.
authors.forename: Boyd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Swinburn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000329:Advertising; D002253:Carbonated Beverages / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005502:Food / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D040541:Marketing; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D062410:Snacks