On Wednesday, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) hosted a virtual event on “Protecting Kids from Stealth Advertising in Digital Media.”  The event featured industry professionals, legal and child development experts, researchers, and consumer advocates to discuss the regulation of digital advertising to children.  Panelists examined the online advertising techniques children are exposed to, children’s capacity to understand and recognize advertising, and the potential harms associated with advertising in an ever-evolving digital landscape.   

We summarize several key discussion points:

  • Impact of advertising on children.  Panelists offered evidence that children are highly susceptible to “blurring,” which describes when an advertisement is designed to obscure the fact that it is an advertisement and instead mimics entertainment content, particularly when this content is offered by personalities such as influencers, endorsers, or avatars.
  • Parental controls for advertisements.  The panelists discussed what role parents should play in taking steps to monitor their children’s online activity and whether regulations are necessary to protect children from potential online harms related to advertising.  Panelists also weighed the costs and benefits of policies that would ban or block advertisements, and policies that would require specific disclosures of advertisements, taking into consideration the economic benefits of advertisements in making online services more financially accessible for consumers.
  • FTC authority to regulate advertising to children.  Several panels discussed the FTC’s authority to promulgate regulations or bring enforcement actions related to advertising to children.  Panelists discussed whether the FTC Improvements Act of 1980, which restricted the FTC from commencing rulemaking on advertising to children, could limit the FTC’s authority in the context of digital advertising to children.  In addition, panelists considered whether Section 5 of the FTC Act provides the Commission authority to promulgate regulations or bring enforcement actions concerning certain types of advertisements for children on the basis that such advertisements constitute unfair or deceptive acts or practices.  In particular, they analyzed whether harms that could arise from certain advertising practices are avoidable by parents and whether the FTC should consider psychological impacts in its analysis of whether such harms result in substantial injury to consumers, a factor that it has not considered in the past.  In addition, panelists discussed whether certain proposed requirements, if adopted by the Commission, would violate the First Amendment.
  • Additional potential mitigation measures.  Panelists commented on a variety of potential solutions for increasing children’s awareness of digital advertisements, such as using a universal icon to signal when content is an advertisement and promoting public awareness and education campaigns.

The FTC is seeking additional public comment on how children are affected by digital advertising and marketing messages that may blur the line between advertising and entertainment.  Comments must be submitted by November 18, 2022.

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Photo of Madeline Salinas Madeline Salinas

Madeline Salinas counsels national and multinational companies across industries on data privacy, content moderation, and advertising issues.

Madeline advises clients on compliance with federal and state privacy frameworks, and counsels clients on navigating the rapidly evolving legal landscape. She regularly assists clients in…

Madeline Salinas counsels national and multinational companies across industries on data privacy, content moderation, and advertising issues.

Madeline advises clients on compliance with federal and state privacy frameworks, and counsels clients on navigating the rapidly evolving legal landscape. She regularly assists clients in designing cutting-edge products and services, developing privacy notices and consent forms, strategically engaging with state legislatures, and participating in rulemaking proceedings of state and federal agencies. In particular, Madeline has experience advising clients on compliance with laws implicating children’s privacy.

Madeline also partners with clients in developing content moderation policies and designing products and services that facilitate sharing of user-generated content, analyzing the evolving legal landscape and public policy considerations related to content moderation.

As part of her practice, Madeline represents clients in consumer protection enforcement actions brought by the Federal Trade Commission on topics related to data privacy and advertising.

Photo of Terrell McSweeny Terrell McSweeny

Terrell McSweeny, former Commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), has held senior appointments in the White House, Department of Justice (DOJ), and the U.S. Senate. At the FTC and DOJ Antitrust Division, she played key roles on significant antitrust and consumer protection…

Terrell McSweeny, former Commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), has held senior appointments in the White House, Department of Justice (DOJ), and the U.S. Senate. At the FTC and DOJ Antitrust Division, she played key roles on significant antitrust and consumer protection enforcement matters. She brings to bear deep experience with regulations governing mergers and non-criminal, anti-competitive conduct, as well as issues relating to cybersecurity and privacy facing high-tech, financial, health care, pharmaceutical, automotive, media, and other industries. Terrell is internationally recognized for her work at the intersection of law and policy with cutting edge technologies including Artificial intelligence (“AI”), Digital Health, Fintech, and the Internet of Things (“IoT”). Clients benefit considerably from her extensive relationships with other enforcement agencies around the world.

Prior to joining the Commission, Terrell served as Chief Counsel for Competition Policy and Intergovernmental Relations for the U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust Division. She joined the Antitrust Division after serving as Deputy Assistant to the President and Domestic Policy Advisor to the Vice President from January 2009 until February 2012, advising President Obama and Vice President Biden on policy in a variety of areas.

Terrell’s government service also includes her work as Senator Joe Biden’s Deputy Chief of Staff and Policy Director in the U.S. Senate, where she managed domestic and economic policy development and legislative initiatives, and as Counsel on the Senate Judiciary Committee, where she worked on issues such as criminal justice, innovation, women’s rights, domestic violence, judicial nominations, immigration, and civil rights.