Brands All The Way Down; The Kalshi Kids Aren't Alright | AdExchanger

"In 1960 expensive watches cost a lot because they cost a lot to manufacture, and what the buyer got in return was the most accurate timekeeping device, for its size, that could be made. Now they cost a lot because brands spend a lot on advertising and use tricks to limit supply."

"Graham's use of "brand" is grammatically and philosophically akin to how one might describe, like, asbestos or lead. It is a poison that is part of modern society but to be avoided."

"Kalshi and Polymarket aren't dominating the media landscape because Americans are excited about gambling on current events. It's also because of how ubiquitous their marketing materials have become - particularly on college campuses."

Modern society increasingly prioritizes advertising and branding over genuine quality and innovation. Expensive products now derive value from marketing and artificial scarcity rather than superior functionality. Prediction market platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket exemplify this trend, aggressively marketing to college students and young people through ubiquitous campaigns. These companies, founded and staffed primarily by Gen Z entrepreneurs, deliberately target younger demographics who spend money recklessly. They have attempted to recruit minors as brand promoters and operate in a legal gray area where they can market to users below the legal gambling age in many states, exploiting a window before established gambling companies can legally target the same audience.

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