Online, catch-up TV and radio, in-app and in-game

Advertisers should bear in mind that for claims on their own websites and in other non-paid-for-space online under their control to be classified as advertising, they must be “directly connected with the supply of goods, services, opportunities or prizes".

In 2011 our online remit was extended to cover marketing claims on companies own websites, including in social media space. Advertisers should bear in mind that for claims on their own websites and in other non-paid-for-space online under their control to be classified as advertising, they must be “directly connected with the supply of goods or services, opportunities, prizes or gifts”.

One thing we don’t regulate is sponsorship. However we do have very strict rules on the disclosure of ads, in other words being upfront and clear about when an ad is an ad, and we take action against advertisers who try and make ads look like editorial content. This is becoming increasingly common online and on social media where brands are working with “social influencers” and celebrities to promote their products. It is important that any posts where the advertiser is paying the content-owner and has full editorial control over the message or visual being seen by the consumer, are labelled correctly with the word “ad” or “advert” to let consumers know this content was not spontaneously generated.
Ads that appear in-app or in-game should also be clearly labelled as ads and not disguised as part of the app’s or game’s content.

Similarly, Advergames which typically are electronic games used to advertise a product, brand or an organisation are also covered by the advertising rules and should not mislead or cause harm and offence. Advertisers should familiarise themselves with the rules around children and advertising when preparing advergames as the content of ads such as these needs to be targeted appropriately.

We also regulate ads that feature during on-demand catch-up TV and radio programmes. These ads must adhere to the non-broadcast advertising rules.

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Latest rulings

Persons unknown t/a Cloud Nine
- Upheld
- Social media (paid ad)
- 01 April 2026
A paid-for Facebook ad for a clothing company made medical claims for a product that didn’t have the relevant compliance labels and wasn’t registered with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. The ad also discouraged essential treatment for a condition for which medical supervision should...
222 Collective Group Ltd t/a 222collectiveuk
- Upheld
- Social media (paid ad), Website (own site)
- 25 March 2026
A paid-for Facebook and Instagram ad for a food supplement brand made claims that their supplements could prevent, treat or cure the symptoms of the menopause and Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS).
DrinkWell Beverages Ltd t/a Drinkwell
- Upheld
- Social media (paid ad)
- 25 March 2026
A paid-for Meta ad for an online alcohol retailer misleadingly implied a drink may be preferred due to its alcohol content and made non-permitted health and nutrition claims about alcoholic drinks.
Gallaher Ltd t/a JTI UK
- Upheld
- App (paid ad)
- 25 March 2026
A paid-for in-app ad promoting awareness of illegal tobacco misleadingly claimed that half of shops in the given area sold illegal tobacco, without having adequate evidence to back up this claim.

View all rulings

Online, catch-up TV and radio, in-app and in-game

Advertisers should bear in mind that for claims on their own websites and in other non-paid-for-space online under their control to be classified as advertising, they must be “directly connected with the supply of goods, services, opportunities or prizes".

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