40 Of The Most Clever Social Issue Ads That Will Make You Stop And Think

Every item and concept in the world is a double-edged sword. Food can either nourish someone or it can contribute to their demise. A knife could be used to open a box, or it could serve a nefarious purpose and be the tool used in a murder. Similarly, advertisements may educate and inspire, or they can be pervasive and obnoxious (which is most often the case). Fortunately for us all, the following 30+ social issue ads are the insightful, compelling kind.

Each unique advertisement employs an effective advertising strategy to capture viewers’ attention. Rather than strive to sell a product, however, the ads promote seek to promote a concept with the ultimate goal being to propel social change. As Bored Panda points out, many of the ads appeal to people’s emotions, as studies have shown the best way to inspire action is to get them to empathize with a situation, person or cause.

Many of the advertisements were funded by specific organizations with outlined causes. Others were paid for by companies that seek to “raise the bar” when it comes to consumerism. All have something in common, though, and that is the desire to inform people about prevalent issues so a better world may be created for future generations. If you think the world could use more insightful advertisements that raise awareness about global issues, please share this compilation.

Following are 40 clever social issue advertisements that will definitely make you think:

1) Torture Victims Are People Just Like You And Me

Credit: Advertising Agency: Advico Y&R, Zurich, Switzerland

2) Stop The Violence: Don’t Drink And Drive

Credit: Advertising Agency: Terremoto Propaganda, Curitiba, Brazil

3) Premature Ending: “If you smoke, statistically your story will end 15% before it should.”

Credit: “THE END. If you smoke, statistically your story will end 15% before it should. For help with quiting call QUITTLINE on 0200 00 22 00” (Advertising Agency: Iris, London, UK)

4) World Wide Fund For Nature: Frightening vs. More Frightening

Credit: Advertising Agency: DDB&CO., Istanbul, Turkey

5) Your Skin Color Shouldn’t Dictate Your Future

Credit: Advertising Agency: Publicis Conseil, Paris, France

Credit: Advertising Agency: Publicis Conseil, Paris, France

6) Unhate

Credit: Advertising Agency: Fabrica, Italy

Credit: Advertising Agency: Fabrica, Italy

7) Elm Grove Police Department: Slower Is Better

Credit: Advertising Agency: Cramer-Krasselt, Milwaukee, USA

8) Save Paper – Save The Planet

Credit: Save Paper – Save The Planet

9) Air Pollution Kills 60,000 People A Year

Credit: Advertising Agency: unknown

10) Liking Isn’t Helping. Be A Volunteer. Change A Life.

Credit: Advertising Agency: Publicis, Singapore

11) Bird Conservation: If You Don’t Pick It Up They Will

Credit:

12) What We See When You Smoke

Credit: Advertising Agency: JWT, Atlanta, USA

13) Animal Anti-Cruelty League: That’s Not A Football

Credit: Advertising Agency: Lowe Bull, Cape Town, South Africa

14) Bangalore Traffic Police: Don’t Talk While Driving

Credit: Advertising Agency: Mudra Group, India

15) Child Soldiers: It’s Not Happening Here, But It’s Happening Now

Credit: Creative/Art director Pius Walker, Amnesty International, Switzerland.

16) Censorship Tells The Wrong Story

Credit: Advertising Agency: Memac Ogilvy & Mather Dubai, UAE

17) Distracted Driving: Think Of Both Sides

Credit: Advertising Agency: Red Pepper, Ekaterinburg, Russia

18) Every 60 Seconds a Species Dies Out. Each Minute Counts

Credit: Advertising Agency: Scholz & Friends, Berlin, Germany

19) Innocence In Danger: Where’s The Pedophile?

Credit: Art Director: Michael Arguello, Copywriter: Bassam Tariq, Additional credits: Jason Musante

Credit: Credit: Art Director: Michael Arguello, Copywriter: Bassam Tariq, Additional credits: Jason Musante

20) Sexual Predators Can Hide In Your Child’s Smartphone

Credit: Credit: Art Director: Michael Arguello, Copywriter: Bassam Tariq, Additional credits: Jason Musante

21) Smoking Causes Premature Aging

Credit: Credit: Art Director: Michael Arguello, Copywriter: Bassam Tariq, Additional credits: Jason Musante

22) You’re Not A Sketch. Say No To Anorexia

Credit: You’re Not A Sketch. Say No To Anorexia

23) Neglected Children Are Made To Feel Invisible. Stop Child Abuse Now

Credit: Neglected Children Are Made To Feel Invisible. Stop Child Abuse Now

24) Global Action In The Interest of Animals: Plastic Bags Kill

Credit: Advertising Agency: BBDO Malaysia, MALAYSIA, Kuala Lumpur / Advertising Agency: Duval Guillaume, Belgium

25) What Goes Around Comes Around. Keep The Sea Clean

Credit: Advertising Agency: JWT, Dubai, UAE

Credit: Credit: Advertising Agency: JWT, Dubai, UAE

26) Tailgating Isn’t Worth It. Give Trucks Room

Credit: Advertising Agency: Amélie Company, Denver, Colorado, USA

27) Sea Shepherd Conservation Society: When You See A Tuna, Think Panda

Credit: Advertising Agency: Ogilvy & Mather, Singapore

28) Sleepiness Is Stronger Than You. Don’t Drive Sleepy

Credit: Advertising Agency: BBDO Bangkok, Thailand

29) See how easy feeding the hungry can be?

Credit: Advertising Agency: TBWAHuntLascaris, Johannesburg, South Africa

30) Causing Cancer By Yourself

Credit: Advertising Agency: Dentsu, Beijing, China

31) Deforestation And The Air We Breathe: Before It’s Too Late

Credit: Advertising Agency: TBWAPARIS, France

32) For The Homeless, Every Day Is A Struggle

Credit: Advertising Agency: Clemenger BBDO, Melbourne, Australia

33) The Prevention Beer Mug: Please Don’t Lose Control Over Your Drinking

Credit: Advertising Agency: Bolero, Fortaleza, Brazil

34) One Child Is Holding Something That’s Been Banned In America To Protect Them. Guess Which One?

Credit: Advertising Agency: Grey, Toronto, Canada

35) Breast Cancer Awareness Bra

Credit: Advertising Agency: Bolero, Fortaleza, Brazil

36) What Goes Around Comes Around: Stop The Iraq War

Credit: Advertising Agency: Big Ant International, New York, USA

Credit: Credit: Advertising Agency: Big Ant International, New York, USA

37) UN Women: Auto-Complete Shows Perceptions Of Women

Credit: Advertising Agency: Ogilvy & Mather, Dubai, UAE

Credit: Credit: Advertising Agency: Ogilvy & Mather, Dubai, UAE

38) Don’t Buy Exotic Animal Souvenirs

Credit: Advertising Agency: LOWE GGK, Warsaw, Poland

39) Animal Abuse And Shelters: Same Pet, Different Owner

Credit: Advertising Agency: TBWA-Santiago Mangada Puno, Philippines

40) Buckle up. Stay alive

Credit: Advertising Agency: TBWA-Santiago Mangada Puno, Philippines