Complaints to ASB tops 5,000 with Ashley Maddison and MyPlates among main offenders
Complaints submitted to the Ad Standards Board have already surpassed 5,000 this year, up from around 2,000 complaints submitted last year, Ad Standards Bureau CEO Fiona Jolly has said.
Jolly joined Mumbrella yesterday for a hangout where she talked about a number of issues affecting the advertising regulator, and the question of whether self-regulation is strong enough for the industry to adhere to community standards.
“Generally we receive about 4,000 complaints a year. Last year was quite low, only two and a half thousand, and we’re quite interested in why it was such a low level. All that it takes for there to be a low level of complaints is for there to not be a big ticket ad that gets complaints.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBBx1rEfLSw
The Ashley Madison commercial is highly disturbing & unethical. Showing it late at night does not soften the blow. This commercial is blatently promoting adultery- singing & dancing as if cheating is the coolest new trend. What next, advertisements promoting meth & ice to teenagers?? It is truly sickening. No idea how these type of commercials are allowed to be given air time.
I never complain about ads or television content normally. I usually think people complaining don’t really have anything better to do with their time than restrict what others are allowed to watch.
That said, the Ashley Madison advert /is/ disgusting. I’ve no problem advertising casual sex sites, but ones that actively encourage people to cheat on their boyfriends, girlfriends, husbands and wives, can only end in heartbreak. People have taken their lives for less, and it’s being advertised cheerily.
Even the Americans banned the ad, and you’ve seen what they allow on telly.
When is the Ashley Madison ad going to be banned from television?! I’m a married woman that knows how much heartache is caused by adultery and this ad is blatently encouraging it. It is just disgusting. It makes me sick everytime I have to listen to it. I like to watch tv late at night because of my work schedule.
Who is the local Australian agency representing Ashley Madison? Do they look after any ethical clients? Let those clients know! I would say cheerio if my agency was being unethical. (Which is different to acting illegal.) If you really want this banned then put pressure on the agency and tell the agencies clients. Stop whinging, start acting and doing…
illegally*