Keeping Up With Advertising?
Start writing a post
Entertainment

Keeping Up With Advertising?

Millions of people have been exposed, yet, there was a failure to disclose.

23
Keeping Up With Advertising?

The other day I came across an article on Twitter about advertising and the Kardashians by Contently, a technology company that helps brands create content. After reading the article, I was really intrigued, probably because I am a Public Relations major, and on my lazy days, I may or may not binge-watch "Keeping Up With The Kardashians."

The Contently article led me to TINA.org, or Truth In Advertising. If you are a follower of any of the Kardashian/Jenner ladies on social media, like I am, you see the hundreds of their posts, many of which are sponsored, such as FitTea, Puma, Calvin Klein and Sugar Bear Hair, each and every week. If a post is sponsored, it means that the person posting the picture or promotion is being paid to do so. Combined, the Kardashian and Jenner clan have a following of almost 300 million followers, resulting in posts that are viewed by consumers worldwide. However, the main issue at hand, according to the TINA investigation, is that FTC, or Federal Trade Commission, guidelines are in violation. Disclosure is required for sponsored posts, meaning the Kardashian clan has to specify somewhere in the post that it is a paid advertisement.

According to TINA, on August 17, the organization sent the Kardashian/Jenner family a letter, notifying them of their deceptive marketing campaigns. Additionally, TINA contacted the companies whose products the family members promoted on Instagram. TINA specified to the Kardashian/Jenner clan, that if the illegal posts were not rectified by August 24, the organization would file a complain with the FTC. After the deadline expired, only about 20 percent of the posts were modified, including "#ad" in the posts. However, multiple posts still remained undisclosed, so TINA filed a complaint with the FTC.

As stated by TINA, in the FTC guidelines, if someone is paid to promote a product or has a material connection with a company, they must disclose that relationship since it could affect a consumer’s opinion about the product.

In my eyes, I always see the posts as advertisements, disclosure or not. However, the law is the law, and the situation made me highly aware of the slight, innocent errors that can be made, and also cause a huge legal problem.

Hopefully, the Kardashian/Jenner ladies and their partner companies will soon start to 'keep up' with #ad.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

54094
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

34816
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

957191
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

182325
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments