Did Apple Cross the Line?

Get the best of POPSUGAR
Fitness — in your inbox!

Help us customize your newsletter by selecting your interests (optional):

Apple Yoga Working Out Running

Did Apple Cross the Line?

August 24, 2007

Apple's new iMac Campaign states, "You can't be too thin. Or too powerful." The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness calls upon Apple to rethink their new media campaign. The Alliance asks, "What kind of message is Apple sending our youth with an ad campaign of this nature?"

Apple was simply applying the Duchess of Windsor's adage to technology, but fears are that it will trickle down to body image. What do you guys think -- Was Apple crossing the line by using the phrase "You can't be too thin. Or too powerful"?

(Oh, and thanks to GeekSugar for bringing this issue to my attention.)

Source

40 Comments

millarci 5 years 37 weeks

I can see how this can offend people. However, I agree with JenBrett. They are talking about the computer and I honestly didn't think about it until the subject was brought up. No one wants a big clunky computer. Everyone wants a thin, powerful computer. Relax everyone...

JenBrett 5 years 37 weeks

hello people, they are talking about a computer, not a person. now if they'd used an olsen twin as a spokes person, than yes. but get a grip, it's a computer, no one wants them big and slow.

Wikipedia 5 years 38 weeks

Its supposed to be clever, its a play on words so it sticks in your head. Can you imagine what the world would be like if people ACTUALLY took ad slogans as solid advice? Come on.

angiee 5 years 38 weeks

I don't think they're crossing the line. You always want your gadgets to be thin and light, it's convenient. Why do people think they're sending message about body weight? :(

junebrug 5 years 38 weeks

They're right -- computers can't be too thin or too powerful. People are another matter.

paii 5 years 38 weeks

I don't believe they were thinking in terms of weight.

lanuchan 5 years 38 weeks

no way i don't think they crossed the line, although the issue is certainly interesting...they wanted to make an ad that caught people's attention, and for sure, it did.

gumdrops334 5 years 38 weeks

I agree that people are just taking it too far. It's almost sarcastic, taking off of the saying "you can never be too thin", applying it to their computers. I'm sure they know you CAN be too thin, but it IS a saying that Hollywood takes to extreme measures. Maybe Apple is being clever and facetious, using that dumb saying, and applying it to electronics. I'm sure they're not telling everyone to barf up their dinner, jeez

Bahia 5 years 38 weeks

People CAN be too thin/ and or too powerful.

The City Girl 5 years 38 weeks

It's a well-known, famous expression that is simply being applied to a computer! It's just a tongue-in-cheek slogan! Anyone who takes it as a statement about how WOMEN should look already has a LOT of serious body issues already.

Hollisterbabe01 5 years 38 weeks

it didn't cross the line! they are marketing a computer for the love of god it is not that serious! but also some people may take it seriously!

tralalala 5 years 38 weeks

You can never be too thin, too rich, or too powerful; if you've never heard that before, you've lead a very sheltered life haha, I don't think they crossed the line, they used a really common phrase and applied it to their product

lovekailua 5 years 38 weeks

i'm in the "wayyy too sensitive" corner for sure! getting ridiculous. i thought it was funny and did not first think of weight even though i know where the original quote came from.

moonlite 5 years 38 weeks

Oh, please. Next thing you know, you won't even be able to say the word "thin" on television without negative consequences. I highly doubt our youth are THAT sensitive. If people really want to make a difference in the media regarding the images young people see, stop showing stick-thin models in every commercial and on the pages of every magazine! Don't worry about cutting one word out of an electronics commerical.

rubialala 5 years 38 weeks

No I don't think they did.

leeluvfashion 5 years 38 weeks

People are twisting the meaning just to start an argument. It's a COMPUTER ad, it's not an ad for health purposes. I don't think it's worth the fight at all.

xlove33 5 years 38 weeks

they aren't talking about people, they are talking about computers. Society seriously needs to relax. And by the way a little more thinness in this country would be a good thing.

ellenmarie 5 years 38 weeks

Some people are way too sensitive...I thought this was amusing.

magita 5 years 38 weeks

I think its pretty obvious its a tongue-in-cheek reference to the saying....if they said something like that out of the blue, then yeah it would be in poor taste. I personally think its cute

phatE 5 years 38 weeks

as someone who struggled with anorexia for 8 years, i didn't think a thing about it, because it's referencing a computer.. maybe i have my head in the sand, but i think the attention drawn to it causes more damage than the original campaign.

LolaKat 5 years 38 weeks

I agree with whtevjenny.

purrtykitty 5 years 38 weeks

i'm iffy on this issue. being a female who struggles with body image issues, i can see how that ad might have an affect on some people. but when i think about apple's target market, i'm pretty sure that the majority wouldn't see that far into it.

jkat 5 years 38 weeks

"The level of discourse reaching a mailbox simply cannot be limited to that which would be suitable for a sandbox." ~Justice Stevens. Not everything in this world has to be perfectly safe, non-controversial, non-offensive, warm fuzzy sunshine. This isn't even provactive. It is just a play on words applied to technological advances. People need to stop being victims of the media. Own your life and your choices. If you don't let a media slogan dictate your body image, it won't.

Tutta 5 years 38 weeks

People are WAY to sensitive now. You can't say anything without offending someone! It's ridiculous! Can we just not take something for what it is? Why does everyone have to read so much into everything? It's like society is looking for excuses to complain.

Chaoticfury 5 years 38 weeks

The Duchess of Windsor? Yeah that's who we should take our media influence from...What was Apple thinking?

Link Love

40 Comments

You Might Also Like