The social platforms have to be more proactive in stopping unhealthy food companies
We conducted new research and discovered that the majority of popular social networks have limitations regarding the promotion of alcohol, tobacco, and gambling to children.
However, there aren’t many similar restrictions imposed on junk food.
Read more: Is social media damaging to children and teens? We asked five experts
Children are exposed to junk food marketing everywhere
All over the world, we’ve witnessed constant demands for children to be protected from exposure to the commercialization of harmful food and drinks.
This acknowledges the negative impacts of marketing junk food on children.
Although certain governments have passed laws to limit children’s exposure to the marketing of unhealthy food items, these laws don’t typically apply to social media.
Certain Food companies have pledged voluntarily to stop marketing unhealthy food products to children. However, most of those pledges tend to be limited in terms and filled with loopholes that allow marketers of junk food to spread.
McDonald’s Australia advertising on Facebook 2020. Author’s note:
Children are constantly exposed to unhealthy food advertising, which is seen on television on the internet, as well as via advertisements on the street.
Food marketing that is junky on social media
In Australia In Australia, a new study found that almost half of the children between 10 and 12 and more than 90% of children aged 13-16 were active in social networks.
Junk food companies target kids via social media using advertisements through sponsored posts and by incorporating their brand’s image into entertaining and engaging content.
This can include establishing promotional partnerships via social media “influencers,” who then promote the brand in part of the content that they share.
Read more: Kids’ diets and screen time: to set up good habits, make healthy choices the default at home.
In one recent study, more than half of Australian kids who were active on Facebook had “liked” a fast food brand which subscribes to its content. A similar proportion of kids had “liked” a soft drink brand.
A different study found that teens were more likely to be engaged by advertisements for junk food more frequently than they did with posts about healthy food.
Additionally, there’s proof that when children are exposed to harmful food advertising through platforms like Facebook, it can increase the likelihood that they’ll eat the item promoted instead of other brands similar to the snack.
Social media guidelines regarding junk food advertisements
In our research, we focused on the top 16 social media platforms in the world. These included platforms that are popular with youngsters, including Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat and Facebook.
We looked at each platform’s policies on advertising related to food and drink.
We did not find that any of the various social networks had strict restrictions on the promotion of unhealthy food items to children.
YouTube Kids, a platform loved by children ages 13 and under, is a platform that bans direct advertising for junk food. However, news reports have indicated that children could continue to be exposed to junk food companies through advertisements and product placement on the site.
Nearly 9/10 Australian teenagers aged 13-16 are on social media. Shutterstock
Other advertising policy
We also examined the advertising policies of each platform in relation to other areas that affect public health.
We observed that the majority of social media platforms were ready to stand up against alcohol, gambling, and tobacco advertisements that target children.
In most instances, their policies in these areas align with the regulations of the government. However, in some cases, they take it a step further.
Facebook and Instagram have recently enacted a ban on advertisements for products for weight loss and diet and cosmetic procedures that are available to those younger than 18. These guidelines are significantly more restrictive than the majority of government regulations.
