Depends on your system of morality. For example, you could have a system of morality that has the axiom: "advertising is inherently bad." In this case, it's hard to imagine it would be justifiable. An opposite system of morality also exists, of course, that says advertising is inherently good.
Since there is no objective standard of morality, and since "morality" is just a fancy word for "things that people consider good or bad," we probably just have to look out into the world and see whether advertising is against the morals of most. Given that we see little great outrage over the use of advertising, even among those who are aware of its risks, I have to conclude that advertising is morally justifiable.
> Since there is no objective standard of morality, and since "morality" is just a fancy word for "things that people consider good or bad," we probably just have to look out into the world and see whether advertising is against the morals of most. Given that we see little great outrage over the use of advertising, even among those who are aware of its risks, I have to conclude that advertising is morally justifiable.
you could have a system of morality that has the axiom
But that's a strawman. It's not the argument being made here. Or by the numerous other critics of advertising: Adam Curtis, Jerry Mander, Neil Postman, etc.
The remainder of your arguments follow a similar train.
Since there is no objective standard of morality, and since "morality" is just a fancy word for "things that people consider good or bad," we probably just have to look out into the world and see whether advertising is against the morals of most. Given that we see little great outrage over the use of advertising, even among those who are aware of its risks, I have to conclude that advertising is morally justifiable.