Influencers must follow government regulations

The Federal Trade Commission is the United States government body that watches the marketplace for unfair and deceptive practices, including on social media. Today, individuals looking to become influencers or businesses looking to partner with them should look closely at the FTC guidelines in order to avoid legal trouble.

To help influencers and content creators follow the regulations, the FTC released Disclosures 101 for Social Media Influencers, which focuses on the importance of disclosing when an influencer has a “material connection” with a brand or advertiser. A material connection could be a financial, employment, personal, or family relationship with a brand, and includes free or discounted products. If a material connection exists, the influencer should disclose it.