24 votes

YouTubers have to declare ads. Why doesn't anyone else?

3 comments

  1. Adys
    Link
    Finally had time to watch this. Superb video, recommend going fully through it. I especially like where he talks about the implications on free speech and the idea that this side of the Atlantic...

    Finally had time to watch this. Superb video, recommend going fully through it.

    I especially like where he talks about the implications on free speech and the idea that this side of the Atlantic thinks in terms of free speech as a level playing field.

    7 votes
  2. [2]
    nacho
    Link
    I don't have time to watch the whole 30 minutes, but skipping around a little, to me it seems like something is either lost on the video maker, or the whole premise is a misread of the situation....

    I don't have time to watch the whole 30 minutes, but skipping around a little, to me it seems like something is either lost on the video maker, or the whole premise is a misread of the situation. If I missed where this is actually explained, feel free to ignore this comment entirely.


    Around the world, there are regulations for "influencers". Those regulations make sure that if someone is paid to endorse a product, they have to declare that payment to the people watching. But why does no-one on TV, or film, or anywhere else have to do that?

    In the EU, you generally have to have clear disclaimers that say a show has product placement.

    In film, these things are often buried in the 10 minute long credits no-one reads.

    In print in the EU, many publications clearly label sponsored content. Advertorials often say "sponsored" on the front page etc. This is stuff you've seen in magazines paying to have "articles" instead of other ads for decades.


    The reason youtube, twitch.tv, snapchat, Instagram etc. all do this is that they'd otherwise be fined in the EU market. They're just following the rules everyone else has to follow in the EU.

    There are many old broadcaster rules that govern tv etc. For example regulations that ban betting advertisements and the like. Those regulations were written prior to internet streaming being a thing, so they often make rules that apply only to domestic market broadcasters. If you broadcast your TV from elsewhere (the UK was a haven for this) you could still have betting commercials since the laws didn't apply.


    Regulation is behind the technology, but legislators have been more on the ball regarding influencers. I'd argue that's because instagramers, sports stars, celebrities, musicians etc. all reach a really young audience. The angle is protecting kids from not realizing they're watching an ad, or that someone got paid to show off those pants or that game or whatever.

    Adults are assumed to be responsible for realizing this themselves, although history has clearly shown that rules for mass marketing are very necessary. Powerful psychological tools that are researched to change behaviors work. That's why the advertising industry is so huge.

    6 votes
    1. lonjil
      Link Parent
      He talked about all of these things in the video. For example, he talks about how in the UK, a whole episode of a show was basically sponsorered/was an ad and the only thing they needed was a...

      He talked about all of these things in the video. For example, he talks about how in the UK, a whole episode of a show was basically sponsorered/was an ad and the only thing they needed was a small barely visible P near the start in a corner. While the rules for influencers and online content creators says stuff like if you put an object in the background that a company gave you for free, your video is an ad and you must ensure that the audience knows it's an ad before they even click the video, by perhaps putting #ad in the title.

      6 votes