For a certain definition of 'can't'....go look at the height of many cigarette ads these at your local minimart some time. Just 'cos Marlboro can't advertise in Boy's Life and Cosmo for Kids doesn't mean they're not marketing to the kids.
Exactly... it's subtle but it's there... sometimes it's NOT so subtle... which is why Joe Camel was removed from Camel cigarette ads because he was a tad too cutesy for adults and thus appealed to the younger minds.
But market researchers hire psychologists they look for ways to get us to BUY their products...now or later it doesn't matter... create a niche and you got income... With Marlboro try this: (also hoping not to go off topic but it is related I think because it could be done ... and probably is done with Beer ads and other alcoholic beverages)...
Kids have an instinctive need to emulate adults around them in one form or another. It's (partly not mostly) how they learn to BE adults when they get older. Thus the Marlboro man, strong, independent and masculine. Cool huh?
Same with these beer/liquor ads... which are now accessable to kids via internet... I'm wondering if parent blocks apply to certian YouTube videos?