We’re supporting Safer Internet Day, which aims to promote the safe, responsible and positive use of digital technology for children and young people.

To coincide with this day, we’re raising awareness amongst kids, parents and teachers of the strict online advertising rules that are in place and our role in protecting children from inappropriate or harmful content.

We regulate UK ads to ensure they are truthful and socially responsible. A crucial part of that process is putting the protection of children at the heart of our work. This involves making sure that the ads targeted at or likely to be seen by children and young people are appropriate and do not cause harm.

We know that children are enthusiastic users of online media. With that, comes the risk of them seeing or hearing advertising which might not be suitable for them to see and hear.

Ads online are subject to the same strict rules that apply in traditional media. The rules extend to marketing on companies’ own websites and in other online space under their control such as on Twitter and Facebook. We will not hesitate to ban any ad that could result in a child’s physical, mental or moral harm.

Kids

We’ve created a flyer for kids to help them understand how online ads should not mislead or cause harm.

We also have a host of resources for parents and teachers to help them inform children about advertising:

Parents

ParentPort - We’ve teamed up with other media regulators to create ParentPort, a website that informs parents who they can contact if they have seen or heard something in the media that they think is unsuitable for a child.

Advice for Parents - Our dedicated page for parents contains a leaflet summarising our rules, guidance on how to make a complaint and links to other organisations that provide support for families or who campaign on children’s issues.

Teachers

Ad:Check - To help children become better equipped to understand and critically assess ads we’ve created Ad:Check, a resource for secondary schools.

ASA Action

Our Hot Topic on Children and Advertising contains further information about our work in this area.

Click here to read the Non-broadcast Advertising Codes for Children (PDF).


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