The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating celebrities and social media influencers for failing to disclose brand deals, as influencer marketing becomes a more popular way of brands reaching audiences.
The investigation will look at concerns social media stars are not properly declaring and labelling when they are paid to endorse products.
It is also worried followers may place trust in a product endorsed by a star and may think it is their own personal view.
Online endorsements from celebrities and influencers can help brands reach target audiences and boost sales.
Media influencers like Kylie Jenner, Selena Gomez, and footballer Cristiano Ronaldo can earn hundreds of thousands of pounds for an endorsement. There is no suggestion that any of these celebrities are involved in any wrongdoing or are being investigated.
Jenner commands $1m (£760k) per Instagram post, according to UK social media marketing firm Hopper HQ.
George Lusty, the CMA’s senior director for consumer protections, said: “Social media stars can have a big influence on what their followers do and buy. If people see clothes, cosmetics, a car, or a holiday being plugged by someone they admire, they might be swayed into buying it.
“So, it’s really important they are clearly told whether a celebrity is promoting a product because they have bought it themselves, or because they have been paid or thanked in some way by the brand.”
The CMA said it has seen examples of posts which appear to promote or endorse products without clearly stating if the post has been paid for.
Analysis
Yuval Ben-Itzhak, CEO of social media marketing firm Socialbakers, highlights how brands MUST become more transparent and authentic in order to earn the trust of customers.
“As we see the platforms working hard to make sure that they are free of digital pollution and more transparent for the user, we are also seeing the same trend happening in the world of influencer marketing,” Ben-Itzhak said. “Influencer marketing on Instagram is now one of the fastest growing marketing trends and as such it is increasingly under the spotlight.
“More and more responsibility is falling on brands to make sure they are selecting their influencer partners wisely and that they are being transparent about which influencer posts have been paid for. This transparency is key because customers are placing increasingly significant value on authenticity. If brands want to build and retain customer trust, they need to be transparent with their audiences about the posts they are paying for and the influencers they are working with.”
