The Advertising Policies of Major Social Media Platforms Overlook the Imperative to Restrict the Exposure of Children and Adolescents to the Promotion of Unhealthy Foods and Beverages
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Sample Selection
2.2. Data Collection
2.3. Data Analysis
3. Results
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Supplementary Materials
Author Contributions
Funding
Conflicts of Interest
References
- Clark, H.; Coll-Seck, A.M.; Banerjee, A.; Peterson, S.; Dalglish, S.L.; Ameratunga, S.; Balabanova, D.; Bhan, M.K.; Bhutta, Z.A.; Borrazzo, J.; et al. A future for the World’s Children? A WHO–UNICEF–Lancet Commission. Lancet 2020, 395, 605–658. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- World Health Organization. Set of Recommendations on the Marketing of Foods and Non-Alcoholic Beverages to Children; World Health Organization: Geneva, Switzerland, 2010. [Google Scholar]
- World Health Organization. Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases 2013–2020; World Health Organization: Geneva, Switzerland, 2013. [Google Scholar]
- Kraak, V.I.; Vandevijvere, S.; Sacks, G.; Brinsden, H.; Hawkes, C.; Barquera, S.; Lobstein, T.; Swinburn, B.A. Progress achieved in restricting the marketing of high-fat, sugary and salty food and beverage products to children. Bull. World Health Organ. 2016, 94, 540–548. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Swinburn, B.A.; Sacks, G.; Hall, K.D.; McPherson, K.; Finegood, D.T.; Moodie, M.L.; Gortmaker, S.L. The global obesity pandemic: Shaped by global drivers and local environments. Lancet 2011, 378, 804–814. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Kraak, V.I.; Patiño, S.R.-G.; Sacks, G. An accountability evaluation for the international food & beverage alliance‘s global policy on marketing communications to children to reduce obesity: A narrative review to inform policy. Obes. Rev. 2019, 20, 90–106. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
- Kelly, B.; Vandevijvere, S.; Freeman, B.; Jenkin, G. New media but same old tricks: Food marketing to children in the digital age. Curr. Obes. Rep. 2015, 4, 37–45. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe. Monitoring and Restricting Digital Marketing of Unhealthy Products to Children and Adolescents: Report Based on the Expert Meeting on Monitoring of Digital Marketing of Unhealthy Products to Children and Adolescents; World Health Organization: Moscow, Russian, 2018. [Google Scholar]
- Zenith: Social Media Overtakes Print to Become the Third-Largest Advertising Channel. Available online: https://www.zenithmedia.com/social-media-overtakes-print-to-become-the-third-largest-advertising-channel/ (accessed on 20 February 2020).
- Kemp, S. Digital 2020: Global Digital Overview. Available online: https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2020-global-digital-overview (accessed on 10 February 2020).
- Clement, J. Social Network Users in Selected Countries in 2018 and 2023: Statista; 2019 [Cited 2019 2 December]. Available online: https://www.statista.com/statistics/278341/number-of-social-network-users-in-selected-countries/ (accessed on 1 June 2020).
- Thomala, L.L. Social Media Usage China 2017, by Age Group: Statista; 2020 [Cited 2020 5 May]. Available online: https://www.statista.com/statistics/793922/china-social-media-penetration-rate-by-age-group/ (accessed on 1 June 2020).
- Baldwin, H.J.; Freeman, B.; Kelly, B. Like and share: Associations between social media engagement and dietary choices in children. Public Health Nutr. 2018, 21, 3210–3215. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Fleming-Milici, F.; Harris, J.L. Adolescents’ engagement with unhealthy food and beverage brands on social media. Appetite 2020, 146, 104501. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Young, S. Social Media Being Used by Growing Number of Children Under 11 Despite Age Limits. Available online: https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/children-social-media-use-age-limit-facebook-instagram-profiles-a8756096.html (accessed on 7 April 2020).
- Ofcom. Children and Parents: Media Use and Attitudes Report 2019; Ofcom: London, UK, 2020.
- World Health Organization. World Failing to Provide Children with a Healthy Life and a Climate Fit for Their Future: WHO-UNICEF-Lancet. Available online: https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/19-02-2020-world-failing-to-provide-children-with-a-healthy-life-and-a-climate-fit-for-their-future-who-unicef-lancet (accessed on 20 February 2020).
- Garde, A.; Byrne, S.; Gokani, N.; Murphy, B. A Child Rights-Based Approach to Food Marketing: A Guide for Policy Makers; UNICEF: Geneva, Switzerland, 2018; Available online: https://www.unicef.org/csr/files/A_Child_Rights-Based_Approach_to_Food_Marketing_Report.pdf (accessed on 1 June 2020).
- World Cancer Research Fund International. Nourishing Database; World Cancer Research Fund International: London, UK, 2019. [Google Scholar]
- Obesity Policy Coalition. Policy Brief: Restrictions on Marketing Unhealthy Food to Children—International Comparison. Available online: https://www.opc.org.au/downloads/policy-briefs/restrictions-on-marketing-unhealthy-food-to-children-international-comparison.pdf (accessed on 7 April 2020).
- Corvalán, C.; Reyes, M.; Garmendia, M.L.; Uauy, R. Structural responses to the obesity and non-communicable diseases epidemic: Update on the Chilean law of food labelling and advertising. Obes. Rev. 2018, 20, 367–374. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- The Food Foundation. UK’s Restrictions on Junk Food Advertising to Children; The Food Foundation: London, UK, 2017. [Google Scholar]
- Australian Competition & Consumer Commission. Social Media. Available online: https://www.accc.gov.au/business/advertising-promoting-your-business/social-media (accessed on 10 March 2020).
- Reuters. Instagram Bans Influencers from Promoting Vaping Products. Available online: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-19/instagram-bans-influencers-from-promoting-vaping-products/11816498 (accessed on 6 April 2020).
- Marketing Interactive. Facebook Bans Alcohol and Tobacco Sale on Its Site: Lighthouse Independent Media. Available online: https://www.marketing-interactive.com/facebook-bans-alcohol-and-tobacco-sale-on-its-site (accessed on 6 April 2020).
- Statista. Most Popular Social Networks Worldwide as of October 2019, Ranked by Number of Active Users. Available online: https://www.statista.com/statistics/272014/global-social-networks-ranked-by-number-of-users/ (accessed on 10 February 2020).
- Greenberg, J. YouTube’s Kids App is Coming Under Fire for Junk Food Ads: WIRED; 2015 [Cited 2015 24 November]. Available online: https://www.wired.com/2015/11/youtubes-kids-app-is-coming-under-fire-for-junk-food-ads/ (accessed on 29 May 2020).
- BBC News. Instagram Clamps Down on Diet and Cosmetic Surgery Posts: BBC News; 2019 [Cited 2019 19 September]. Available online: https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-49746065 (accessed on 28 May 2020).
- Hoffman, E.W.; Pinkleton, B.E.; Weintraub Austin, E.; Reyes-Velázquez, W. Exploring college students’ use of general and alcohol-related social media and their associations with alcohol-related behaviors. J. Am. Coll. Health 2014, 62, 328–335. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Murphy, G.; Corcoran, C.; Tatlow-Golden, M.; Boyland, E.; Rooney, B. See, like, share, remember: Adolescents’ responses to unhealthy-, healthy-and non-food advertising in social media. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 2181. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
- Coates, A.E.; Hardman, C.A.; Halford, J.C.G.; Christiansen, P.; Boyland, E.J. The effect of influencer marketing of food and a “protective” advertising disclosure on children’s food intake. Pediatr. Obes. 2019, 14, e12540. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- World Health Organization. Report of the Commission on Ending Childhood Obesity; World Health Organization: Geneva, Switzerland, 2016. [Google Scholar]
- Nickelodeon. Nickelodeon Australia & New Zealand Standards & Practices 2018. Available online: http://www.nick.com.au/gsp.scenic/international/nickelodeon.com.au/docs/MTVN_BALA-v2-Nickelodeon_Standards_&_Practices_Australia_and_New.pdf (accessed on 10 March 2020).
- The Walt Disney Company. Disney Ad Guidelines. Available online: https://mediakit.go.com/disney/disney-ad-guidelines/ (accessed on 10 March 2020).
Platform (Country of Headquarters) 1 | Classification | Minimum Age to Create an Account | Unhealthy Foods | Tobacco | Alcohol | Gambling | Weight Loss | Other Policies Related to Content Targeted at Minors | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
General | Minors 2 | General | Minors 2 | General | Minors 2 | General | Minors 2 | General | Minors 2 | ||||
Facebook (United States) | Social Media | 13 | No restrictions | No restrictions | Prohibited | Restricted—country laws and age requirements apply | Restricted—specific policy to protect under 18s | Restricted | Restricted—specific policy to protect under 18s | Prohibited | Restricted—specific policy to protect under 18s | Not applicable | |
YouTube (United States) | Video Sharing | 18 13 (with parental permission) | No restrictions | No restrictions | Prohibited | Restricted—country laws and age requirements apply | Restricted—specific policy to protect under 18s | Restricted | Restricted—specific policy to protect under 18s | Restricted | Not applicable | ||
Under 13 (dedicated platform for children, YouTube Kids) | Prohibited—Specific policy to protect minors | Prohibited—Specific policy to protect minors | Prohibited—Specific policy to protect minors | Prohibited—Specific policy to protect minors | Prohibited—Specific policy to protect minors | Prohibited—Specific policy to protect minors | |||||||
WhatsApp (United States) | Messaging | 16—from May 2018 13—Prior to May 2018 | No restrictions | No restrictions | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited | Not applicable | ||||
Facebook Messenger (United States) | Messaging | 13 | No restrictions | No restrictions | Prohibited | Restricted—country laws and age requirements apply | Restricted—specific policy to protect under 18s | Restricted | Restricted—specific policy to protect under 18s | Prohibited | Restricted—specific policy to protect under 18s | Not applicable | |
WeChat (China) | Multi-purpose messaging, social media and mobile payment platform | 13 | No restrictions | No restrictions | Prohibited | No restrictions | No restrictions | Prohibited | No restrictions | No restrictions | Not applicable | ||
Instagram (United States) | Social Media | 13 | No restrictions | No restrictions | Prohibited | Restricted—country laws and age requirements apply | Restricted—specific policy to protect under 18s | Restricted | Restricted—specific policy to protect under 18s | Prohibited | Restricted—specific policy to protect under 18s | Not applicable | |
QQ (China) | Social Media | 13 Under 12—children’s version available | Not available | ||||||||||
Qzone (China) | Social Media | Not available | Not available | ||||||||||
Douyin/Tik Tok (China) | Social Media | 18 | No restrictions | No restrictions | No restrictions | No restrictions | No restrictions | No restrictions | Restricted content | Restricted content | No restrictions | No restrictions | Restricted—specific policy to protect minors |
Sina Weibo (China) | Social Media | 14 | Not available | ||||||||||
Reddit (United States) | Social News | 13 | No restrictions | No restrictions | Prohibited | Restricted—country laws and age requirements apply | Restricted—specific policy to protect under 18s | Restricted—country laws apply | No restrictions | No restrictions | Not applicable | ||
Twitter (United States) | Social Media | 13 | No restrictions | No restrictions | Prohibited | Restricted—country laws and age requirements apply | Prohibited—specific policy to protect minors | Restricted—country laws and age requirements apply | Prohibited—specific policy to protect minors | No restrictions | No restrictions | Not applicable | |
Douban (China) | Social Media | Not available | Not available | ||||||||||
Snapchat (United States) | Social Media | 13 | Specific nutritional claim requirements apply | Prohibited | Restricted—country laws and age requirements apply | Restricted—specific policy to protect under 18s | Restricted | No restrictions | No restrictions | Not applicable | |||
LinkedIn (United States) | Social Media | 16 | No restrictions | No restrictions | Prohibited | Restricted—country laws apply | Prohibited | Prohibited | Not applicable | ||||
Pinterest (United States) | Social Media | 13 | No restrictions | No restrictions | Prohibited | Restricted—country laws and age requirements apply | Restricted—specific policy to protect under 18s | Restricted—country laws apply | Restricted | Not applicable |
© 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Share and Cite
Sacks, G.; Looi, E.S.Y. The Advertising Policies of Major Social Media Platforms Overlook the Imperative to Restrict the Exposure of Children and Adolescents to the Promotion of Unhealthy Foods and Beverages. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 4172. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17114172
Sacks G, Looi ESY. The Advertising Policies of Major Social Media Platforms Overlook the Imperative to Restrict the Exposure of Children and Adolescents to the Promotion of Unhealthy Foods and Beverages. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020; 17(11):4172. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17114172
Chicago/Turabian StyleSacks, Gary, and Evelyn Suk Yi Looi. 2020. "The Advertising Policies of Major Social Media Platforms Overlook the Imperative to Restrict the Exposure of Children and Adolescents to the Promotion of Unhealthy Foods and Beverages" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 11: 4172. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17114172
APA StyleSacks, G., & Looi, E. S. Y. (2020). The Advertising Policies of Major Social Media Platforms Overlook the Imperative to Restrict the Exposure of Children and Adolescents to the Promotion of Unhealthy Foods and Beverages. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(11), 4172. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17114172