Disclosure on Native Ads

What Is Disclosure on Native Ads?

Disclosure on native ads refers to the practice of clearly labeling paid content as advertising to inform users that the content is sponsored. This ensures transparency and compliance with regulatory guidelines.

Examples of Disclosure

• Sponsored Label: A native ad in an online news article is labeled with the word “Sponsored” or “Paid Content” to differentiate it from organic content.
• Influencer Marketing Disclosure: An influencer includes the hashtag #Ad or #Sponsored in their social media post to disclose that the content is a paid partnership.

Key Points about Disclosure

• Proper disclosure helps avoid misleading users and ensures that native ads are compliant with advertising regulations.
• Disclosures should be prominent and easy to understand, placed in locations where users are likely to see them.
• Effective disclosure fosters trust between the advertiser and the audience by being upfront about the nature of the content.

Disclosure Best Practices

• Use Clear Language: Avoid vague terms; use clear labels like “Ad,” “Sponsored,” or “Paid Content” to inform users.
• Place Disclosures Prominently: Ensure that disclosures are visible and placed where users will notice them, such as near the headline or before the content begins.
• Adhere to Guidelines: Follow the FTC Native Advertising Guidelines and platform-specific rules for disclosing paid content.

Considerations

• User Experience: Make sure that disclosures do not interfere with the user experience but are still prominent enough to be noticed.
• Platform-Specific Rules: Each platform may have its own rules about where and how to disclose native ads, so be sure to comply with these requirements.