Ban is on kids’ ads

In their recent article Tom Watson and Jon Ashworth suggested that “banning ads on TV... will see junk food ads flooding to platforms which are much less responsible than broadcasters” (Mirror, June 23).

The Shadow Ministers refer specifically to websites accessed on children’s phones, and name YouTube.

Targeting such ads at children on digital platforms is already banned. The ban covers ads on all children’s websites, apps and social media platforms, including on YouTube.

And the burden of proof is on companies which advertise to show the ASA they’ve taken appropriate steps to target such ads away from children online.

It’s simply not correct to say that online platforms are “much less regulated than broadcasters”.

The ban is being policed just as rigorously online as it is on TV. Guy Parker, Chief Executive, Advertising Standards Authority