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30 Corporate Marketing Tactics That Shaped How We Live Without Us Realizing
Interview With Expert
There’s a lot of talk about sustainability and ethics these days, with many companies claiming to put people first. But while some genuinely try, the reality is that most corporations prioritize profits above all else.
To keep the money flowing, they rely on clever marketing, subtle manipulation, and outright lies—so much so that many of their ideas become so ingrained in society that we don’t even question them.
Curious about these hidden agendas, one Redditor asked others to share the most successful cases of corporate propaganda that have become widely accepted as normal. Scroll down to see what they had to say, and let us know your thoughts in the comments!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
That suing McDonalds for spilling hot coffee on yourself is a frivolous lawsuit and an example of why corporations need more protection against lawsuits
To clarify the point--the hot coffee lawsuit was not frivolous and thinking it is is corporate propaganda.
RELATED:
#3
Oil corporations have convinced millions of Americans that there is doubt about climate change. They used the same tactic that the tobacco industry used to sow doubt about the harmfulness of smoking cigarettes.
Cigarettes are deadly and so is climate change.
Now they have retreated to OK there is climate change but it’s just a natural cycle. That’s not what scientists say, but unfortunately for us all there are millions of Americans who believe Sean Hannity over scientists.
Tamra 4 days ago
Oil corporations have not only launched propaganda campaigns, but they have also funneled a LOT of money to politicians to further that aim. The Environmental Protection Agency is currently in the process of being gutted, and the USDA has been ordered to eliminate their websites that reference or discuss the current climate crisis. All of this is being done by the current administration.
Bored Panda reached out to marketing psychologist Akash to get his take on the topic and ask whether companies can market their ideas ethically.
“Every organization or company has business ethics and a code of conduct, and they do follow it,” Akash said. “But in the end, the thing that matters most is profit. That’s the ultimate goal of every business, except for NGOs and the government.”
However, he explained that while profit is the driving force, not everything companies do is unethical. “If businesses focused only on profit, they would resort to unethical practices. But today, many companies shape consumer behavior in ways that aren’t necessarily deceptive—just strategic. Take Uber, Zomato, or Flipkart, for example. These companies didn’t exploit consumers; they identified pain points and gaps in the market and provided solutions.”
On the other hand, many corporations uphold ethics through corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. “For instance, Reliance’s Vantara initiative and the Tata Group’s donations help build consumer trust while balancing ethics and profits,” Akash added.
“Ethics = Trust = Profits.”
#4
That we the consumers are at fault for all of the plastic waste in the world. It is a free rider problem — and the corporations are not paying for the harm they have done and are continuing to do to the world.
#6
“Warning, this product may cause bleeding, swelling, hair loss, thoughts of s*****e depression, cancer, anal leakage, and death”
Meanwhile it shows a bunch of happy people playing frisbee in the park with grandma
Akash also highlighted that a company’s success isn’t just about the market they serve—it’s about how well they tap into emotions, habits, and decision-making patterns to create an irresistible connection with their brand.
Big brands are particularly skilled at using psychology to influence consumers:
- They make it personal. Ever seen an ad that feels like it knows you? That’s data-driven personalization at work.
- They sell a feeling, not a product. Apple doesn’t just sell tech—it sells innovation and creativity.
- They create urgency. Limited-time offers make people act fast.
- They hook you with small steps. Free trials or introductory deals get customers invested.
- They make themselves familiar. The more you see a brand, the more you trust it.
- They remove friction. One-click checkouts make buying effortless.
#7
Fast fashion. it needs to die. not only is it an overheating unsustainable system. it promotes waist, and you end up spending more money on them anyway in the long run. it is better to make a small wardrobe of a few well-made clothes that fit you well and will last a long time over sometimes literal plastic.
Caitlin Youngquist 4 days ago
Sam Vimes’s ‘Boots’ Theory of Socio-economic Unfairness: "The reason that the rich were so rich, Vimes reasoned, was because they managed to spend less money. "Take boots, for example. He earned thirty-eight dollars a month plus allowances. A really good pair of leather boots cost fifty dollars. But an affordable pair of boots, which were sort of OK for a season or two and then leaked like hell when the cardboard gave out, cost about ten dollars. Those were the kind of boots Vimes always bought, and wore until the soles were so thin that he could tell where he was in Ankh-Morpork on a foggy night by the feel of the cobbles. But the thing was that good boots lasted for years and years. A man who could afford fifty dollars had a pair of boots that’d still be keeping his feet dry in ten years’ time, while the poor man who could only afford cheap boots would have spent a hundred dollars on boots in the same time and would still have wet feet."
#8
Planned obsolescence in technology.
whymypersonality:
You mean how most technology literally quits working every few years? Cause I'm getting sick of being literally forced to buy a new phone every 2-3 years because the old one wont turn on anymore.
Mike Goslin 4 days ago
Choose your technology more carefully. Certainly some (many) tech companies plan obsolesce (You have some pictured here) by trapping you in their ecosystem.. BUT, many tech companies are truly competitive and that includes longevity. Avoid techno-hype and choose stuff that works well with stuff from other manufacturers.. The competition will keep your gear running and useful for 10+ years easily.
#9
Breakfast foods are only for breakfast and that's all you're supposed to eat in the morning. I had clam chowder for breakfast my first day living alone at 17. F**k the system.
#10
Clovers being weeds I read a while back that most w**d killers can't differentiate between clovers and other weeds they just k**l all of them so companies began emphasizing clovers as a w**d so they could still sell their chemicals
I learned this fact on reddit tho so take it with a grain of salt.
panties_in_my_a*s:
You may have learned it on reddit, but it’s true. Clover and other common, lawn-healthy broadleaf plants were demonized by agrichemical companies so that they could sell herbicide chemicals. Here is a wonderful, readable source that will make you and your green space more healthy.
Clover is great for your lawn because it fixes nitrogen. Farmers rotate nitrogen-fixing plants into their fields because grains (like grass) gradually deplete nitrogen. Nobody would need to fertilize their lawn if they just left the f*****g clover there.
Fun fact (not actually fun) is the herbicides were designed to k**l German potato crops and Japanese rice crops in World War II. They were never used that way in the end, but to this day we are spraying our lawns with chemicals originally designed as weapons to threaten civilian food security. WWII was f*cked up.
#11
American exceptionalism and individualism
Also, the idea that your work ethic (or rather how much time you give your job) is what gives you value.
#12
Separate toys for boys and girls.
#13
The food pyramid was created in 1977 as the (heavily influenced by companies) USDA made new dietary recommendations to cut out fat and replace it with “heart healthy” starches and carbs. It actually led to a growth in obesity rates.
#14
Valentine's day!
Sarah Kathrin Matsoukis 4 days ago
I'll go for any excuse to get bf a gift and a special date, let me enjoy Valentine's Day
#15
Sorry, I keep writing these because I can't sleep.
The whole notion that government is inefficient and incompetent, a drag on business.
I'm no communist, but there is always a role for government in a well-run economy. Business may be more efficient, but why do we focus on efficiency to the exclusion of all other considerations? What about robustness? What about fairness? Businesses are not incented to improve society, only their position within it. Government should act as counterweight to ensure a Leviathan like Amazon does not sink us.
As for the incompetence of government, all I will say is this. I've worked as a consultant to government and now in Big Tech. I've seen as much, if not more, incompetence here than I worked in the public sector.
Toothless Feline 4 days ago
Government’s most important role in the economy is to ensure an even playing field between businesses and customers. The US government has failed hard on this.
#16
Y'all don't hate me for this - US military commercials.
Hmmm hmmmm 4 days ago
Not as good as the British navy adverts. I can still recite some of those from memory. Born in Blythe but raised in the royal navy
#17
The white picket fence American dream. It was actually a propaganda campaign on the 50s to try and get women out of the workforce so men returning from war would have jobs to go back to.
#18
The war on d***s.
Mental Liberals 4 days ago
Where the corrupt government imports the d***s, sells them, and makes a profit!
#19
Pink anything for women...
#20
The standard American diet.
#21
Service charges and ATM fees at banks.
Lost Panda 4 days ago
In Japan, ATMs are not 24/7 and are not open on Sundays/holidays (depending on the institution). The whole country has missed what the purpose of an automated teller was invented for. Oh... and services charges, they did adopt that part though.
#22
"Premium economy" seating in airplanes. It's what regular economy seating should be.
#23
The fact that sharing your salary with your colleagues in the same position as you is taboo.
Some companies I've worked for have gone so far as to put it in their handbook as a rule. It's just them trying to cheap out as much as possible. Because when I bring up the fact that the new hire makes more than I do after gaining seniority, suddenly they want to be mad at me.
Warren Peece 4 days ago
In the USA, it is illegal under the The National Labor Relations Act for a company to forbid workers from discussing salaries or other job conditions among themselves.
#24
Women’s razors. Marketing shaving to women and convincing them and the rest of the population that being hairless was more feminine.
Toothless Feline 4 days ago
The worst propaganda about women’s razors is that they will take the exact same razor they would sell a man, make it pink, and hike the price.
#25
Expensive skincare.
That $300 moisturizing cream doesn't necessarily have better ingredients than a $10 cream.
#26
The concept of waking up at 6-7am to go sit in a desk and be stifled of your creativity and personal experiences for 6-8 hours a day. This is an outdated system to get people trained and docile to work in factories, and now successfully causes generations of kids to be depressed.
#27
Those who sell top cash Ibuprofen or Paracetamol. Normal cheap/store brand stuff works just as well. Just very good marketing.
NarrativeScorpion:
The vast majority of d***s have store brand varieties. People just need to learn to look at the active ingredients.
#28
People eating KFC during Christmas time in Japan because of KFC's marketing campaign that promoted their products as a traditional Western Christmas treat.
#30
Women's jeans without pockets so you have to go buy purses.
What do you think ?
kzys59pcrp 4 days ago
Being told you have to listen to a doctor because they know best. I’ve been living with my illness for years but I need to listen to a doctor who barely knows anything about it? Besides they always tell you the same things like exercise more and drink more water. As if I haven’t tried that.
BarkingSquirell 3 days ago
Mine has been good so far and, if I showed up to the tests, could hep me figure out what is going on with my fragile, frail body (cannot really walk anymore.)
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kzys59pcrp 4 days ago
Being told you have to listen to a doctor because they know best. I’ve been living with my illness for years but I need to listen to a doctor who barely knows anything about it? Besides they always tell you the same things like exercise more and drink more water. As if I haven’t tried that.
BarkingSquirell 3 days ago
Mine has been good so far and, if I showed up to the tests, could hep me figure out what is going on with my fragile, frail body (cannot really walk anymore.)
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