The show I decided to analyze is called South Park. The episode I watched was called 'Premium Isn't Free'. This show is a direct satire of current events of the world with poor cut-out animation. This episode is about free applications for the various tablet and Ipads, specifically the in application purchases.
The parody in this episode is that the apple store and google play are the new "drug pushers" with their addictive applications that are free to download yet purchases must be made to unlock features or advance the application along.
This type of sales strategy is one of psychological predication. the reliance upon an addiction to make sales rise is one that most unwanted companies such as alcohol and tobacco distributors. These companies are making it common place not only to accept the behavior of an addict but to also encourage it as normal behavior.
Not only is this a slippery slope to be on , it is compounded by peer pressure. this episode pressures one of the four main characters to lie to his friends so they believe he is advancing through in app purchases on his tablet.This episode mainly focused on the addictive aspect of this sales strategy, only toughing on the peer pressure angle.
The moral of this episode is that corporations are allowed to use this type of psychological sales strategy reminiscent of the Reagan era anti-drug commercials where the "dealer" gives the first taste for free, but the next will cost you money.This predatory technique feeds on the feeble minded consumer who is unaware of the amount of money spent during the time the application is running.
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