The Most Popular PSA, Ranked

Choose the PSA you think is the most popular!

Author: Gregor Krambs
Updated on May 14, 2024 06:48
Public service announcements (PSAs) have always played a crucial role in communicating important messages to the public. By highlighting diverse issues from health awareness to safety measures, these announcements seek to inform and influence the wider community. However, not all PSAs gain the same level of attention or impact, prompting the need for a ranking system that helps identify which ones resonate most effectively with people. Through our interactive voting system, visitors like you have the power to shape the ranking of these significant messages. By casting your votes, you contribute not only to recognizing impactful PSAs but also to guiding future productions. By participating, you ensure that the most pertinent and powerful messages gain visibility and continue to benefit society.

What Is the Most Popular PSA?

  1. 1
    30
    votes
    This PSA from the 1980s showed a fried egg sizzling in a pan, representing a person's brain on drugs. It became an iconic slogan and is still referenced today.
    The 'This is your brain on drugs' public service announcement (PSA) is an influential anti-drug campaign that was created in the late 1980s as part of the Partnership for a Drug-Free America. The PSA uses a simple but powerful visual metaphor to convey the harmful effects of drug use on the brain.
    • Campaign Type: Public Service Announcement (PSA)
    • Year of Creation: Late 1980s
    • Message: Highlighting the negative impact of drugs on the brain
    • Visual Metaphor: A frying egg representing the brain
    • Narration: A voice-over explaining the analogy and warning against drugs
  2. 2
    24
    votes
    This PSA from the 1980s aimed to discourage drunk driving by encouraging friends to intervene and stop their intoxicated friends from getting behind the wheel.
    The PSA with the tagline 'Friends don't let friends drive drunk' is a widely known public service announcement that aims to discourage drunk driving by emphasizing the importance of looking out for one another.
    • Message: Avoid drunk driving and encourage friends to intervene.
    • Tagline: 'Friends don't let friends drive drunk'
    • Objective: Promote responsible decision-making and prevent alcohol-related accidents.
    • Target audience: General public, particularly friends of individuals who may consider driving drunk.
    • Medium: TV, radio, print, online, and social media platforms.
  3. 3
    14
    votes
    This recent PSA raises awareness about the signs of drowning, which can be silent and hard to recognize.
    Drowning doesn't look like drowning is a popular public service announcement (PSA) that aims to educate people about the signs and symptoms of drowning. It highlights the misconception that drowning victims typically scream or thrash around, when in reality, they often remain silent and struggle to stay afloat.
    • Release Year: 2010
    • Medium: Video
    • Duration: 3 minutes
    • Language: English
    • Target Audience: General public
  4. 4
    18
    votes
    This PSA from the White House aimed to combat sexual assault on college campuses by encouraging bystanders to intervene and prevent situations that could lead to assault.
    It's On Us is a popular public service announcement (PSA) campaign aimed at raising awareness and preventing sexual assault. It encourages individuals to take responsibility for creating a culture of consent and preventing sexual violence.
    • Launch Date: September 19, 2014
    • Slogan: It's On Us
    • Target Audience: College students and young adults
    • Messaging: Encouraging bystander intervention, consent education, survivor support, and changing societal norms
    • Partnership: Collaboration with over 440 colleges and universities across the United States
  5. 5
    6
    votes
    This PSA from the United Negro College Fund aimed to raise awareness about the importance of education and to encourage support for historically black colleges and universities.
    A mind is a terrible thing to waste is a famous public service announcement (PSA) campaign that focuses on promoting education and fighting against racial inequality in education. The campaign aims to raise awareness about the importance of education and the potential that individuals have to succeed.
    • Launch Year: 1972
    • Slogan: A mind is a terrible thing to waste
    • Target Audience: General public
    • Message: Promote education and fight against racial inequality
    • Duration: Multiple decades
  6. 6
    6
    votes
    This iconic PSA from the 1990s aimed to promote the consumption of milk and increase dairy industry sales.
    The 'Got milk?' campaign is one of the most popular public service announcements (PSA) in the United States, aimed at promoting the consumption of milk. It features various print and video advertisements portraying individuals in everyday situations with a milk mustache, emphasizing the importance of incorporating milk into a healthy diet.
    • Launch Year: 1993
    • Advertising Agency: Goodby, Silverstein & Partners
    • Purpose: Promote milk consumption
    • Slogan: Got milk?
    • Target Audience: General public
  7. 7
    6
    votes
    This PSA campaign aimed to encourage people to wear their seat belts while driving, and to enforce seat belt laws with fines.
    Click it or Ticket is a highly recognized public service announcement (PSA) campaign aimed at promoting seat belt usage and enforcing seat belt laws.
    • Campaign launch year: 2002
    • Duration: Typically runs during the weeks surrounding Memorial Day (late May) and Labor Day (early September)
    • Target audience: General public, with a specific focus on drivers and passengers who do not regularly use seat belts
    • Key message: Emphasizes the importance of wearing seat belts and the consequences of not buckling up
    • Enforcement approach: Combines widespread media awareness campaigns with increased law enforcement presence
  8. 8
    13
    votes
    This PSA from the 1970s featured the character Woodsy Owl and aimed to raise awareness about the importance of protecting the environment.
    The 'Give a hoot, don't pollute' campaign was a widely recognized public service announcement (PSA) focused on raising awareness about the importance of environmental conservation and preventing pollution. The campaign primarily highlighted the detrimental effects of littering on wildlife and emphasized the responsibility of individuals to take care of the environment.
    • Launch Year: 1971
    • Slogan: Give a hoot, don't pollute
    • Mascot: Woodsy Owl
    • Target Audience: General public, with a focus on children
    • Medium: Television, radio, print ads, and educational materials
  9. 9
    9
    votes
    This PSA campaign aimed to discourage youth smoking by exposing the tactics of tobacco companies and highlighting the dangers of smoking.
    The 'Truth' anti-smoking campaign is a widely recognized and influential public service announcement (PSA) aimed at preventing and reducing tobacco use among young people through impactful messaging and creative advertising. The campaign is known for its edgy and provocative style, using a combination of television commercials, digital content, and social media engagement to convey its message.
    • Launch Year: 2000
    • Target Audience: Young people aged 12-24
    • Duration: Ongoing
    • Overall Message: Exposing tobacco industry manipulation and risks of smoking
    • Key Themes: Deception, manipulation, health consequences, and social activism
  10. 10
    4
    votes

    I am a witness

    Ad Council
    This PSA campaign aimed to combat bullying by encouraging bystanders to speak up and intervene when they witness bullying behavior.
    The 'I am a witness' PSA is a campaign that aims to promote bystander intervention to prevent bullying and harassment. The campaign encourages people to speak up and take action when they witness such incidents. It utilizes a distinctive eye icon to represent being a witness and standing up against these behaviors.
    • Campaign type: Public Service Announcement
    • Focus: Bystander intervention
    • Target audience: General public
    • Mediums utilized: TV, online videos, social media
    • Launch year: 2016

Missing your favorite PSA?

Graphs
Discussion

Ranking factors for popular PSA

  1. Reach
    The number of people exposed to the PSA, including television viewers, radio listeners, social media users, and other channels.
  2. Target Audience
    The effectiveness of a PSA often depends on how well it resonates with the intended audience. Demographic factors such as age, gender, income, and location should be considered when evaluating a PSA's popularity.
  3. Clarity of Message
    A successful PSA clearly communicates its intended message and prompts the audience to take action. The message should be easy to understand and memorable.
  4. Emotional Impact
    A popular PSA often has a strong emotional impact, as this helps to connect with the audience and leave a lasting impression.
  5. Persuasiveness
    A PSA should effectively persuade its target audience to change their attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors. This can be done through a combination of strong messaging and visuals.
  6. Creativity
    Innovative and unique PSAs are more likely to gain traction and become popular. The creativity of the concept, production, and delivery can set a PSA apart from others.
  7. Call to Action
    A clear call to action is a crucial component of a successful PSA. The audience should be prompted to do something, whether it is to donate, volunteer, or simply learn more about the issue.
  8. Media Coverage
    Media coverage, including news articles and social media shares, can help amplify the reach and effectiveness of a PSA. The more coverage a PSA receives, the more likely it is to become popular.
  9. Longevity
    A popular PSA should have lasting power, remaining relevant and engaging for an extended period. This can lead to a continued impact on the target audience and establishment in the public consciousness.
  10. Awards and Recognition
    Recognition from industry experts, such as awards and nominations, can be indicative of a PSA's popularity and success. These accolades can bring more attention to the PSA and validate its effectiveness.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most popular PSA. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or PSA is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

  • 1326 views
  • 130 votes
  • 10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each PSA once every 24 hours. The rank of each PSA is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

Categories

More information on most popular psa

PSA or Public Service Announcement is a type of advertisement that is meant to inform and educate the public about important social issues. PSAs are often created by government agencies, non-profit organizations, and other groups with a social cause. These announcements can cover a wide range of topics, from health and safety to environmental concerns and political issues. At StrawPoll, we are always curious about the most popular PSAs among our users. Whether it's a catchy jingle, a memorable slogan or a powerful message, we know that PSAs can make a significant impact on public perception and behavior. Join us as we explore the most popular PSAs and their impact on society.

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