Policy & Ethicssocial media adsadvertising regulationad standards
Ad Standards Records Rise In Social Media Complaints
6.0
In 2025 Ad Standards received close to 5,000 complaints and investigated 252 ad cases, finding 79 breaches of the AANA code. Complaints rose for social media platforms (77 cases, about 30% of reviews) amid greater DIY marketing, while free-to-air TV remained the single most complained-about medium; top targets included Kia's 'zombie-proof' EV ads (86 complaints) and Honey Birdette. The rise has prompted calls to review code guidance and oversight.
Key Points
- 1Reports nearly 5,000 complaints in 2025, with 252 cases reviewed and 79 breaches.
- 2Attributes social media complaint rise to DIY marketing by small businesses and lower ad entry costs.
- 3Recommends tightening code guidance and oversight to improve advertiser compliance across traditional and online media.
Scoring Rationale
Uses official Ad Standards figures giving credibility, but offers an incremental industry update with limited novelty.
Sources
Public references used for this report.
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