Privacy groups target ads for kids disguised as YouTube content
Marketing companies are targeting children on YouTube with advertising disguised as other content, an "unfair and deceptive" business practice, three privacy groups said in a complaint to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
The companies, including Disney's Maker Studios and DreamWorks' AwesomenessTV, use popular "influencers" on YouTube to pitch products, aimed at children worldwide, with videos that "masquerade" as unsponsored content, said the complaint, filed Friday by the Center for Digital Democracy (CDD), Public Citizen, and the Campaign for a Commerical-Free Childhood (CCFC). YouTube and corporate parent Google reap the benefits through advertising sold alongside the videos.
To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here