Warning: this is what the pufferfish emoji means on social media
Recently, we discovered a whole bunch of bizarre advertisements from the past, featuring some rather dubious nutritional advice. Hilarious and insane at the same time. These days, influencers are the new advertisers. But is influencer marketing really that much better? The Advertising Code Foundation (SRC) has its doubts and is therefore launching a new, eye-catching campaign: the pufferfish campaign.
A bar that helps you lose weight, a powder that reduces your wrinkles, a drink that makes you feel more energetic: you can’t think of anything too crazy for someone not to have thought of it already. And you can bet your bottom dollar that collaborations with influencers are involved. Super effective. Because if a famous influencer promotes it, it must be good. Right? Erm…
When in doubt: drop a pufferfish in the comments
Many influencers and content creators follow the rules around advertising on social media. But misleading claims still occur regularly. You’ve probably seen an influencer make a health claim that you had serious doubts about. Seeing that again? SRC asks you to place a pufferfish emoji under the post. This warns others about possible misleading information. You can also report it to the Advertising Code Committee: the committee affiliated with SRC.
Inflating in the face of danger
Why a pufferfish? There’s a reason behind it. The animal inflates itself when danger is present. Essentially, the same goes for social media. If you see the pufferfish emoji under a post, it’s a sign of ‘danger’: what is being claimed in the video may not be true.
You’ve probably also been influenced at some point by the appealing products and promises influencers make to you. That’s not strange; it’s their job. It has happened to me too—more often than is good for my wallet. But we have the right to ”honest and clearly recognisable advertising, from both brands and influencers”, as SRC director Otto van der Harst tells NU.nl. So that we don’t buy things or take advice that ultimately does us no good. If only they had had this back then; our parents would have grown up with less dubious nutritional advice…
Want to know more about the campaign? Check reclamecode.nl.
Also read:
- 10 times we’re seriously fooled by packaging and advertising
- 10 of the best food advertisements
- Vegan influencer has died of hunger
Source: NU.nl
