Watchdog files complaints against advertisers in YouTube Kids for promoting Junk Food Ads to Young Children

Consumer watchdogs filed more complaints to the Federal Trade Commission against the YouTube Kids application. The additional complaints are targeted on advertisers for failing to live up to their pledge of promoting only healthier dietary products.

According to Tech Crunch, the advertisers who are members of the Children's Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative (CFBAI) pledged to promote only healthier dietary products for children under 12 years old. However, the complaints filed by watchdogs Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC) and the Center for Digital Democracy (CDD) claims that these advertisers have broken their promises. Brands like General Mills, Oreo, Kellogg, Coca-Cola and more are prohibited to advertise Oreo cookies, pizza, Pop-Tarts, Coke Zero, and Coke to young children.  

YouTube Kids was developed to provide a child-free content for younger audiences and give parents a peace of mind that their kids won't stumble on more adult videos in the site. However, it has been receiving a lot of criticism and controversy from advocacy groups and US Senators for its advertising and content. The watch groups have been targeting the app ever since it was launched, they claim that the app has "deceptive ads."

In a report by Consumer Affairs, CDD executive director Jeff Chester said, "Our new complaints underscore why the FTC needs to stop Google from engaging in what are nothing less than harmful, unethical, and irresponsible practices that target America's youngest children."

According to the New York Times, these new filings could add more pressure on the FTC to probe the fast growing online video market. The groups argue that online videos targeting little children are too commercialized and are not subject to the same standards that cable and broadcast TV follow.

The complaints demand that the FTC should investigate food marketers, video creators, and Google. It also calls for a broad investigation on the advertising of such products to younger children online.