FTC Issues New Social Media/Endorsement Guidance

The FTC’s Endorsement Guides were revised in 2009 to provide advertisers with guidance on how to apply traditional legal principles regarding testimonials and endorsements to new marketing channels and techniques. More recently, in 2013, the FTC issued its revised .Com Disclosure Guide. Recognizing the continuing growth and evolution of social media and consumer generated content as well as the space constrained nature of some platforms, on May 29, 2015, the FTC issued “The FTC’s Endorsement Guides: What People Are Asking,” which provides an update to the Guides’ Q&As.

The FTC has consistently stated that traditional truth-in-advertising principles apply to social media and other forms of user-generated content. This requires advertisers that have a material connection with a person who speaks about its product or service (i.e., an endorser) to take affirmative steps to ensure that the posting is truthful and is not misleading. In order to do so, the FTC has made clear that the endorser must typically disclose the material connection between the endorser and the advertiser, and the endorser cannot make a claim that is either untruthful or one for which the advertiser lacks adequate substantiation. These principles may seem logical, but the challenge advertisers and endorsers have faced is how to provide the disclosures in a manner that fits with the platform, and how the principles apply to actions frequently taken by consumers, such as entering a sweepstakes.

While the FTC reiterates that no special language is required in providing the disclosures, an advertiser and endorser should keep in mind the 4P’s — prominence (size), presentation (understandable), placement (will it be seen), and proximity (is it close to the triggering claim) to the claim. These standards apply to social media platforms and small screen devices.

The FTC’s revisions cover a number of topics. A few highlights and examples are discussed below.

Receipt of Value

Endorsers and advertisers must remember that the FTC still applies a different standard to bloggers than it does with traditional media as it relates to sample products. While traditional newspapers and magazine reviewers of products do not need to disclose if they received the sample for free, particularly if there is an ongoing relationship, the FTC continues to hold that those writing on a personal blog or in social media posts need to make the disclosure, such as “Company X gave me this product to try….” The FTC has also reiterated its position that affiliate marketers must clearly and conspicuously disclose their relationship to an online retailer on its site and not rely simply on an “affiliate link” or “buy now” button.

The Platform Doesn’t Matter

The disclosure obligations apply regardless of the platform. This means if an endorser must disclose his or her connection to the advertiser, it must be made irrespective of space limitations. For example, for Twitter (which has a 140 character limitation), the FTC states the user should start the tweet with “ad” or #ad or include “Sponsored”, “Promotion” or “Paid Ad”. Similarly, in uploading a video review on YouTube, the FTC advises that the disclosure must be clearly and conspicuously made by placing the disclosure in the beginning of the online review, and repeating throughout a longer video, so that it is not missed by a viewer.

Sweepstakes and Promotions

The FTC’s position regarding material connection has been expanded recently to require a disclosure if a person receives a sweepstakes entry in exchange for a post, as well as incentives with potentially no financial value. The FAQs provide that if a user is “rewarded” with an entry for a post, the advertiser should ensure that such post include the (hashtag) disclosure #contest or #sweepstakes. The FTC does not recommend using abbreviations, such as “#sweeps”, because of concerns that a consumer would not understand the disclosure.

Advertiser’s Responsibility

The FTC continues to reiterate that advertisers have an affirmative obligation to train and monitor what persons with whom they have a material connection say regarding the advertisers’ products and services. The FTC recognizes that advertisers cannot possibly know every post, but stress that there should be a program in place in which the advertiser: (a) instructs members of the network on their responsibilities for disclosing their connections to the advertiser; (b) periodically searches for what those people are saying; and (c) follows up if it finds questionable practices. In instituting such compliance and monitoring programs, advertisers should be sure to document the steps it has taken with regard to such a program.

Takeaway

As advertisers continue to utilize social media channels as a marketing vehicle, they must take affirmative steps to ensure that advertising is not only truthful, but discloses a material relationship when someone speaks about their product. An advertiser’s obligation in this regard, is ongoing, and requires a robust and documented training and monitoring program.

Comments

Bob

There has been a steady trend by websites using every possible way to endorse products but using disguised tactics and never disclosing any affiliation.

This is happening a LOT ,everyday on gaming sites,as they have affiliation and partnerships with the product sellers.

Example always positive reviews of products.Sweepstakes that force out positive reviews to gain rewards.Positive previews to get around any notion of having actually played the game much but can still give positive reviews to keep the partner affiliation going so both sides profit.

Another tactic that needs to be looked at is multi linking to create revenue from cookies upon each loading page.
Example SWEEPSTAKES !! one sentence saying nothing,oh click this next link to get to sweepstakes rules.Or every single post/blog/article NEVER says anything on the original thread but forces viewers to constantly click a new link to get to the actual information which is almost always product endorsement,positive reviews/previews.

Still yet more tactics,like hiring outside writers to help endorse the products and seeing 90+ always positive reviews.Creating threads that are again ALWAYS positive disguised advertising like 5 things this game/product does great or 10 reasons you should buy this product and NEVER once do they announce any form of advertising or affiliations of any kind.

Add a comment

Type the following characters: hotel, romeo, romeo, three, niner, tango

* Indicates a required field.

Subscribe

Recent Posts

Contributors

Archives

Jump to Page

Necessary Cookies

Necessary cookies enable core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility. You may disable these by changing your browser settings, but this may affect how the website functions.

Analytical Cookies

Analytical cookies help us improve our website by collecting and reporting information on its usage. We access and process information from these cookies at an aggregate level.