What appeal is used when highlighting how popular a product is compared to competitors?

The correct answer is the appeal to prestige. This type of appeal emphasizes the popularity and desirability of a product by associating it with a positive social standing or status. When a product is portrayed as more popular than its competitors, it taps into consumers' desires to be part of a successful or trending group, suggesting that using the product will elevate their status or image. Celebrating a product's popularity can make it seem more valuable or desirable because people often want what others want, believing that it reflects positively on themselves.

In contrast, the other appeals highlighted in the choices do not focus on popularity in this way. The appeal to ridicule typically involves mocking or deriding opponents rather than emphasizing desirability through popularity. The appeal to practical consequences involves focusing on the tangible benefits of a product rather than how well it performs in comparison to others. Lastly, the appeal to prejudice involves leveraging biases or stereotypes to persuade, which does not relate directly to product popularity. Thus, the emphasis on a product’s popularity as a measure of its prestige is a distinguishing feature that identifies this appeal appropriately.