69% of Influencer Ads Violated Disclosure Norms in 2024-25: ASCI
In a shocking revelation, the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has reported that 69% of influencer advertisements reviewed in 2024-25 failed to meet disclosure requirements. This is a staggering number that highlights the widespread disregard for advertising norms in the influencer marketing space. In its Annual Complaints Report 2024-25, ASCI revealed that out of the 1,015 advertisements processed for influencer violations, a whopping 98% required modification.
The ASCI report is a wake-up call for influencers, advertisers, and the digital advertising ecosystem as a whole. It underscores the need for stricter guidelines and enforcement mechanisms to ensure transparency and accountability in influencer marketing. The report also highlights the growing concern about offshore betting and gambling advertisements, which saw a significant surge in reporting compared to the previous year.
Influencer marketing has become a crucial component of digital marketing strategies, with millions of influencers promoting products and services to their massive followings on social media platforms. While influencer marketing can be a powerful tool for brands to reach their target audiences, it also raises concerns about authenticity, transparency, and regulatory compliance.
The ASCI report is a response to the growing concerns about influencer marketing. The council, which is responsible for monitoring and regulating advertisements in India, has been working to address the issues surrounding influencer marketing. The report provides a snapshot of the state of influencer marketing in India, highlighting the common violations and the need for stricter guidelines and enforcement.
The report identifies several common violations in influencer advertisements, including:
- Lack of clear disclosures: Many influencer advertisements failed to disclose the fact that they were sponsored or paid promotions.
- Misleading claims: Some influencer advertisements made misleading or false claims about products or services.
- Inadequate labeling: Many influencer advertisements did not include clear labels or disclaimers to indicate that they were sponsored.
- Failure to comply with ASCI guidelines: Some influencer advertisements did not comply with ASCI guidelines on advertising norms.
The report also highlights the growing concern about offshore betting and gambling advertisements. The ASCI report notes that there was a significant surge in reporting of such advertisements compared to the previous year. This is a worrying trend, as offshore betting and gambling advertisements can pose significant risks to consumers, including financial losses and addiction.
The ASCI report has sparked concerns about the lack of regulation in the influencer marketing space. While social media platforms have their own guidelines and policies, they often lack the teeth to enforce these guidelines effectively. The ASCI report highlights the need for stricter guidelines and enforcement mechanisms to ensure transparency and accountability in influencer marketing.
The report also raises concerns about the role of influencers in promoting products and services. While influencers can be powerful promoters of products and services, they also have a responsibility to ensure that their promotions are transparent and compliant with advertising norms. Influencers who fail to comply with advertising norms can damage their credibility and reputation, as well as the reputation of the brands they promote.
The ASCI report also highlights the need for increased transparency and accountability in influencer marketing. Influencers and advertisers must work together to ensure that influencer advertisements are transparent, compliant, and ethical. This includes providing clear disclosures, labeling sponsored content, and ensuring that claims made in advertisements are accurate and truthful.
In conclusion, the ASCI report is a wake-up call for the influencer marketing space. The report highlights the widespread disregard for advertising norms in influencer marketing, as well as the growing concern about offshore betting and gambling advertisements. Influencers, advertisers, and the digital advertising ecosystem as a whole must work together to ensure transparency, accountability, and regulatory compliance in influencer marketing.
