Marketing is a powerful tool that shapes perceptions, influences behaviors, and drives consumer decisions. While it has been used to educate, inspire, and improve lives, there are countless examples of how marketing has been weaponized to deceive, exploit, and harm society. From promoting dangerous products to perpetuating harmful stereotypes, the misuse of marketing has left a lasting impact on public health and societal well-being. Here are three glaring examples of how marketing has been used to harm society:
1. Lysol: Promoted as a Feminine Hygiene Product
In the early 20th century, Lysol disinfectant—a product originally designed for cleaning surfaces—was aggressively marketed to women as a personal hygiene product. Advertisements claimed it could prevent “marital troubles” and “embarrassing odors,” playing on societal taboos and insecurities around women’s bodies. These campaigns were not only misleading but also dangerous. Lysol contained harsh chemicals like cresol, which could cause burns, inflammation, and even poisoning when used as a douche. Tragically, this marketing strategy contributed to numerous health complications and deaths, all while exploiting women’s fears and perpetuating harmful gender norms.
This example highlights how marketing can prey on societal vulnerabilities, using fear and shame to sell products that are not only unnecessary but also harmful.
2. Dutch Boy Paint: Promoting Lead as Safe for Families
For decades, lead-based paint was marketed as a durable, high-quality product for homes and children’s toys. Dutch Boy, a popular paint brand, used cheerful imagery of children and families in its advertising, creating a false sense of safety around its products. However, lead is a toxic substance that can cause severe health issues, especially in children, including developmental delays, brain damage, and even death. Despite growing evidence of its dangers, the lead paint industry continued to market its products as safe, delaying regulations and putting countless lives at risk.
This case underscores how marketing can be used to downplay or outright ignore scientific evidence, prioritizing profits over public health.
3. Cigarettes: Endorsed by Doctors
Perhaps one of the most infamous examples of harmful marketing is the tobacco industry’s campaign to promote cigarettes as healthy—or even beneficial. In the mid-20th century, cigarette brands like Camel and Lucky Strike featured advertisements with doctors endorsing their products, claiming they were “good for digestion” or “soothing to the throat.” These campaigns were designed to create a false sense of security, convincing the public that smoking was not only harmless but also medically approved. The devastating consequences of this deception are well-documented: millions of lives lost to lung cancer, heart disease, and other smoking-related illnesses.
This example illustrates how marketing can manipulate trust in authority figures to sell products that are inherently dangerous, leaving a legacy of harm that persists to this day.
Conclusion: The Ethical Responsibility of Marketing
These examples serve as stark reminders of the ethical responsibility that comes with marketing. When used irresponsibly, marketing can perpetuate misinformation, exploit vulnerabilities, and cause irreparable harm to individuals and society as a whole. As consumers, we must remain vigilant and critical of the messages we encounter. And as marketers, we must prioritize truth, transparency, and the well-being of the public over short-term profits.
The lessons from Lysol, Dutch Boy, and cigarette marketing campaigns are clear: marketing is not just about selling products—it’s about shaping the world we live in. Let’s ensure that influence is used for good, not harm.
What other examples of harmful marketing come to mind? Share your thoughts in the comments below. Let’s continue the conversation about how we can hold brands accountable and demand better.
