Controversial advertising holds a mirror up to society. It can unite us in laughter or outrage, spark debates that shape our beliefs – and sometimes expose our political differences. But where do lines of acceptability or offensiveness get drawn? Earlier this year the New Zealand Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) announced the most complained about ads Read more
Discriminatory ads will soon be a thing of the past with Facebook. Facebook said it has removed more than 5,000 ad-targeting categories to limit the ability of advertisers to exclude users based on ethnicity or religion. Until now, when an advertiser created an ad for Facebook, a tab “to exclude persons who correspond more or Read more
The Church has lost a lawsuit challenging the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATAs) advertising policies. The lawsuit was lodged last year by the Washington Archdiocese after the transit company rejected the Christmas advertisement (ad) the Archdiocese wanted to put on a bus. The ad showed silhouetted images of the three wise men and a Read more
Archbishop John Dew, of Wellington New Zealand, is one 37 community leaders who have signed the Call for Action on Alcohol statement, asking for new laws to restrict the sale of alcohol. Among them are representatives from medical colleges and organisations, universities, churches, the Heart Foundation and the Cancer Society. The petitioners have identified four Read more
Auckland Transport has pulled an advertisement depicting Chairman Mao performing the Gangnam Style dance. It has been banned from Auckland bus stops for fear it will insult Chinese residents. The advertisement for online electricity store Powershop shows the Chinese former dictator surrounded by Chinese people and soldiers posing with guns, and carries the slogan ‘Same Read more
Children are being groomed by alcohol companies years before they reach the legal drinking age, through advertising on Facebook, researchers say. Massey University health psychology associate professor Antonia Lyons says checking Facebook was part of their everyday routine and it was used as a platform to organise social events, many of which revolved around drinking. Read more
A barber shop advert showing a picture of Jesus Christ stating ‘He is coming….Better get your hair done’ has been cleared of offending Christians. The advert for Barber Brown’s hair salon, which is based in Bristol but has a string of salons across the southwest of England, featured a photo of Jesus Christ bathed in Read more
According to South Africa’s national Advertising Standards Authority, a TV commercial for deodorant, featuring angels falling from heaven, is offensive to Christians and it has ordered the ad’s removal. The angelic beings are seen tumbling to Earth because they are attracted to a man wearing Axe deodorant. “A viewer who complained to the ASA about the advert Read more
