Childhood bullying not M&M’s fault, panel rules

Does the red M&M in this ad encourage kids to be bullies?

Australia’s Advertising Standards Bureau took two months to investigate viewer complaints before ruling the answer is “no,” Ad Age reports.

One of the complaints filed said:

“M&M’s is the most influential product on the market and needs to ensure the message that children receives is positive and assisting in their growth and development,” the complainant said.

“When marketing a product the message should be about development of our children not showing them that the red M&M can dominate the rest of the group. Children will see this as a normal way of life as the M&Ms portray to them those they mix with at school.”