Advertising is a legitimate and important means for large numbers of businesses to acquire and maintain customers. The inherent aim of any ad is to provoke reactions in people. As such, they shape and influence society and culture, and they impact people’s lives. The digital age presents new challenges to the promotion of responsible advertising. Companies are finding it easier to collect data that allows them to cater ads to intended audiences. As ads more effectively play into the emotions of consumers, the need for ethicality in the advertising industry rises.
Responsible 100 creates and develops detailed benchmarks on each of the issues we explore. The above reveals only summaries of the current statements describing POOR, OKAY, GOOD and EXCELLENT performance standards. No policy nor practice examples are included here. The complete benchmarks are shared with organisations which, through offering answers to the above questions, help to shape and improve the benchmarks on an ongoing basis. Find out more about our benchmarks here.
A number of exciting organisations have been founded in recent years to seek to increase the positive impacts of advertising on people and planet, and decrease the various negative impacts it can have.
The following summarises key focus areas of CAN's works:
Articles
Importance of Diversity In Advertising and Marketing Teams - 8 November 2022
This article explains why diversity in advertising and marketing can be beneficial and what it really means for businesses.
Advertising: How It Influences Children - 12 October 2022
This article focuses on the influence advertisements have on children and how you can limit the negative influence on advertising.
What Is Ad Fraud? - 7 September 2022
This article goes into detail about the different types of Ad Fraud and which businesses are typically at risk.
Consent Management In Advertising - 27 April 2022
This article discusses what consent management is and the importance of its relation to advertising.
Environmental Claims: Innocent Drinks - 23 February 2022
This article focuses on the issue about misinformation and how it’s merely hidden in many products. Companies use advertisements to mislead their consumers into buying an environmentally damaging product.
What Is GDPR? The Summary Guide To GDPR Compliance In The UK - 24 March 2020
This article informs businesses on the UK's GDPR and who it applies to.
Resources
This resource provides you with all of CAN's research and information regarding their manifestos for creating more responsible advertising practices. They are constantly adding to each issue so use this link to stay up to date on the most pressing issues in responsible advertising.
Advertising To Children - 18 May 2022
Advertising and promotions are part of daily marketing strategies. With the ongoing debate about the effects of advertising to children, it is important for businesses to know what responsibilities they have to protect children from harmful advertising.
Anti-Ad Fraud Certification Programs
Certifications allow companies to better combat fraudulent and criminal activity in digital advertising. These certifications will help promote awareness of dealing with Ad-Fraud within your business.
The idea of promoting companies with advertisers who pull their support from publications that spread hate among cultures has increasingly become an issue. This resource has examples of their work and delivers information on their 8 core principles that help them aim for ethical advertising.
Podcasts
Why Elon Musk's Twitter Is Losing Advertisers - 7 November 2022
Knowing where an organisation advertises is often just as important as what it is they are advertising. Following Elon Musk's takeover of the popular social media app, Twitter, many advertisers have paused or pulled out of advertising on the app until they see how Musk handles concerns surrounding content mediation, hate speech and misinformation. This podcast by The Wall Street Journal discusses the Twitter controversy and how businesses can ensure their advertising policies are aligned with company beliefs.