The line between an advertisement and entertaining content is blurry on YouTube, and a children’s rights watchdog group is asking the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to step in.
The group Truth in Advertising has filed a complaint with the FTC over one specific YouTube creator’s channel — Ryan ToysReview. Hosted by seven-year-old Ryan Kaji (but run by his parents), the channel often finds Kaji playing with and unboxing toys. The complaint states that Kaji’s parents didn’t disclose paid sponsorships from companies like Chuck E. Cheese’s and Hardee’s. When the channel did properly disclose paid sponsorships, they were written or voiced in a way that is impossible for preschool children to understand.
“An adult might be able to tell ……