The days of camouflaged ads on Instagram may be coming to an end. The Facebook-owned social network on Wednesday introduced a new branded-content tool to help users more easily identify when posts are sponsored.
Some may refer to such update to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC); who mailed warning letter to influencers, brands, and celebrities whose posts failed to properly disclose deals. One of the rules back then required influencers in the United States to include the hashtag #ad or #sponsored to every paid picture they post on Instagram.
Here’s how the new feature works: If an an influencer is posting sponsored content, they should select “Advanced Settings” along the bottom of the caption screen. These advanced settings, where you can turn off comments for a post, will have a new “Branded Content” section that says “Tag Business Partner.” When an influencer chooses that option, the partner’s name will be added where a location tag normally shows up. The same goes for a sponsored post in an Instagram Story.
How will this feature affect the Instagram experience in the middle east? Well, it will be the best update yet especially for the brands who will also have access to the insights of the posts. When an influencer shares a new picture with paid partnership, the brand will be able to have access to the insights of that post; no more fake influencing but transparency all the way!
