It is mandatory for social media ‘influencers’ to disclose interests, guidelines issued
[ad_1]
The government on Friday made it mandatory for social media “influencers” to disclose their “physical affiliation” and interests while promoting products and services, failing which strict legal measures like banning the advertisement would be taken. These guidelines are part of the ongoing efforts to curb misleading advertisements as well as protect the interests of consumers. This is important in the sense that by the year 2025, the social media ‘influencer’ market is estimated to be around Rs 2,800 crore. Those who influence the public by keeping their opinion about any product or services on social media platforms are called ‘influencers’. The Department of Consumer Affairs has issued new guidelines on celebrities, ‘influencers’ and ‘online’ media ‘influencers’ on social media platforms. In case of their violation, the penalty prescribed for misleading advertisement under the Consumer Protection Act 2019 will be imposed. The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) can impose a penalty of up to Rs 10 lakh on manufacturers, advertisers and promoters of products in relation to misleading advertisements. For repeated violations of the rules, the amount of fine can be increased to Rs 50 lakh. Apart from this, the Authority can debar the person promoting any misleading advertisement from any advertisement for a period of one year which may also be extended up to three years. Addressing a press conference here, Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh said the new guidelines have been issued within the purview of the Consumer Act which provides a framework for protection of consumers against unfair trade practices and misleading advertisements. He expressed hope that the guidelines would act as a deterrent to ‘influencers’ using social media. He said, this is a very important issue. In the year 2022, the social media influencer market in India was estimated to be Rs 1,275 crore. But by the year 2025, it is likely to reach Rs 2,800 crore with an annual growth rate of around 19-20 per cent. The number of influencers making an impact on social media in the country has crossed one lakh and it is only expected to increase with the increase in the spread of the Internet. The Consumer Affairs Secretary said, in such a situation, social media ‘influencers’ need to behave responsibly. Now they have to give information about their physical connection with the product or service they are advertising on social media. Speaking on the occasion, CCPA Chief Commissioner Nidhi Khare said that misleading advertisement in any form, format or medium is prohibited by law. Keeping this in mind, instructions have been issued regarding the need and methods of disclosure for social media ‘influencers’.
The government on Friday made it mandatory for social media “influencers” to disclose their “physical affiliation” and interests while promoting products and services, failing which strict legal measures like banning the advertisement would be taken. These guidelines are part of the ongoing efforts to curb misleading advertisements as well as protect the interests of consumers. This is important in the sense that by the year 2025, the social media ‘influencer’ market is estimated to be around Rs 2,800 crore.
Those who influence the public by keeping their opinion about any product or services on social media platforms are called ‘influencers’. The Department of Consumer Affairs has issued new guidelines on celebrities, ‘influencers’ and ‘online’ media ‘influencers’ on social media platforms. In case of their violation, the penalty prescribed for misleading advertisement under the Consumer Protection Act 2019 will be imposed.
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) can impose a penalty of up to Rs 10 lakh on manufacturers, advertisers and promoters of products in relation to misleading advertisements. For repeated violations of the rules, the amount of fine can be increased to Rs 50 lakh. Apart from this, the Authority can debar the person promoting any misleading advertisement from any advertisement for a period of one year which may also be extended up to three years.
Addressing a press conference here, Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh said the new guidelines have been issued within the purview of the Consumer Act which provides a framework for protection of consumers against unfair trade practices and misleading advertisements. He expressed hope that the guidelines would act as a deterrent to ‘influencers’ using social media. He said, this is a very important issue.
In the year 2022, the social media influencer market in India was estimated to be Rs 1,275 crore. But by the year 2025, it is likely to reach Rs 2,800 crore with an annual growth rate of about 19-20 per cent. The number of influencers making an impact on social media in the country has crossed one lakh and it is only expected to increase with the increase in the spread of the Internet. The Consumer Affairs Secretary said, in such a situation, social media ‘influencers’ need to behave responsibly.
Now they have to give information about their physical connection with the product or service they are advertising on social media. Speaking on the occasion, CCPA Chief Commissioner Nidhi Khare said that misleading advertisement in any form, format or medium is prohibited by law. Keeping this in mind, instructions have been issued regarding the need and methods of disclosure for social media ‘influencers’.
Disclaimer:IndiaTheNews has not edited this news. This news has been published from PTI-language feed.
[ad_2]
Source link
