FTC Disclosure & YouTube Reviews

by Rush
4 replies
I just started making review videos on YouTube and I would like to be FTC compliant.

I've been reading through the guidelines, and this particular guideline regarding the placement of the disclosure makes it tricky: "... and require no scrolling or other type of user action to locate the disclosure".

I don't really want to have the disclosure IN the video itself, and apparently I can't just put the disclaimer in the video description, because the user would have to click to expand the description ("user action") to be able to see the disclaimer.

For those of you that try to follow the FTC guidelines, how do you go about it?

If I don't include any affiliate links on YouTube, but instead link to my website first (which has the disclaimer in the sidebar), would that be okay? The problem with that would be if someone watches my review video but does not visit my website, they would never know that I'm affiliated with the company I'm doing the review for.
#disclosure #ftc #reviews #youtube
  • Profile picture of the author Thriftypreneur
    Originally Posted by Rush View Post

    I just started making review videos on YouTube and I would like to be FTC compliant.

    I've been reading through the guidelines, and this particular guideline regarding the placement of the disclosure makes it tricky: "... and require no scrolling or other type of user action to locate the disclosure".

    I don't really want to have the disclosure IN the video itself, and apparently I can't just put the disclaimer in the video description, because the user would have to click to expand the description ("user action") to be able to see the disclaimer.

    For those of you that try to follow the FTC guidelines, how do you go about it?

    If I don't include any affiliate links on YouTube, but instead link to my website first (which has the disclaimer in the sidebar), would that be okay? Although, if someone watches my review video but does not visit my website, they would never know that I'm affiliated with the company I'm doing the review for.
    Best bet would probably be to put the disclosure as an opening splash page for the video, similar to how informercials do it.

    WELCOME TO REVIEWS BY RUSH!
    Your trusted source in the (insert niche here) World!


    "While the reviews and opinions expressed in this video are our own, Reviews by Rush may receive commission on any sales made through links mentioned in this video or on this video's YouTube page."



    Obviously you'd need to word it more correctly to cover the links in your video description, but you get the idea.


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    • Profile picture of the author Rush
      @Thriftypreneur: Thanks! That's a good idea.
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  • Profile picture of the author kindsvater
    Linking to your website where you have more information is a good idea. Since we don't know what is in your video (or what the video is about) it is difficult to suggest anything there, except to have a disclosure in the video if you provide a link in the video.

    Some of the FTC social media disclosure rules are virtually impossible to comply with. Sometimes there are laws and regulations that end up being ignored and never enforced. While I am not in a position to say ignore a FTC statement, I would say that is where the social media suggestions are going. There needs to be commonly used abbreviations to address these issues.
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    • Profile picture of the author Rush
      Originally Posted by kindsvater View Post

      Linking to your website where you have more information is a good idea. Since we don't know what is in your video (or what the video is about) it is difficult to suggest anything there, except to have a disclosure in the video if you provide a link in the video.

      Some of the FTC social media disclosure rules are virtually impossible to comply with. Sometimes there are laws and regulations that end up being ignored and never enforced. While I am not in a position to say ignore a FTC statement, I would say that is where the social media suggestions are going. There needs to be commonly used abbreviations to address these issues.
      I'm reviewing hosting companies that I've actually used myself. In the video I tell them to click the link below the video (in the description) if they want to sign up.

      I'm thinking about linking to a page on my site first, which will have the youtube video embedded, as well as a more in-depth review, and on that page, have a the full FTC disclosure in the sidebar. It's just ridiculous because I STILL don't know if that would be in compliance or not.
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