What are your opinions on the tactics and techniques of the marketing media who are targeting teenagers? Have they gone too far?

While it is possible to argue that the tactics and techniques of the marketers who are targeting teens have gone to far, it is also possible to argue that it is ultimately up to for the individual to decide how far you will let them persuade you. Since the biggest market segment is teens, marketers have to find an effective way to get inside their minds and figure out ways to really connect and what better way then to enter their homes. In regards to all of the different techniques, this one may go a little too far. To enter into someones home and look at all of their possessions and clothes and ask them personal questions; may fall under an invasion of privacy. I also think that these made up characters, the "mook" and the "midriff" are a little extreme. By using these characters, they are portraying that they majority of teens can be compared to this "mook." A male who is rude and angry and likes to act immature, while the "midriff" is this sexy, mature girl. Marketers say that this is a feedback loop, in which they retrieve information and then create shows and music based on wants and needs of the teenagers. It can also be thought of that the marketers are actually the ones creating the music and shows to ensure teens will continue to follow the craze.
However, how far is too far. With all of these shows and music pushing sex and other negatives towards teens, when is it enough. While I think that marketers have gone a little too far in some of their tactics, it is their jobs. They are supposed to get involved and no matter what it takes, find out what is the new "cool" thing, or what can become the next best thing and find a way to market it. Their job is to find out all of this information in order to make money. Can anyone expect them to stop or tone it down? I think it is important for the teens to know when enough is enough. They should be able to look and not be completely persuaded by some of these tactics and realize that not everyone is going to fall under the "mook" or "midriff" stereotypes.
I think that focus groups are a good way for marketers to find out information from the source and they usually pay the participants as well. I think they people taking pictures of you or entering your homes is crossing the line and taking things a little too far. It is almost like teens are animals and they are studying them in every way possible. The media has become the window for teens to find out what the next "cool" thing is going to be, and when they can't afford it or they don't fit that look, it often becomes difficult for them.