Parents Launch Scorecard on YouTube Advertising

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 22nd, 2020 
CONTACT: press@fightforthefuture.org

Concerned parents at Fight for the Future have compiled a scorecard showing what family brands are complicit in YouTube’s harmful advertising practices.

With YouTube continuing to be in the news for its surveillance capitalist business practices that harm children, teens, and other vulnerable groups, Fight for the Future has assembled a scorecard for the holiday season.

The scorecard rounds up popular brands that parents at the organization use into three categories: those who proactively avoid advertising on YouTube, those who buy YouTube ads, and those who have not responded to multiple requests for clarification. YouTube does not maintain a library of ads that would allow parents to see which advertisers are paying for access to their children.

The frequently-updated scorecard is available now at WhoIsHarmingKids.com.

“During the busy holiday shopping season, we wanted to assess for ourselves whether our personal purchases were fueling the very practices we are fighting so hard to end,” said Sarah Roth-Gaudette (she/her), Executive Director of Fight for the Future. “As parents and privacy advocates, we see real harm coming from YouTube’s addictive video recommendations, targeted advertising, and privacy-violating data collection. Our kids and teens already spend enough time sitting behind a screen—the last thing we want is Google manipulating them into even worse habits.”

The scorecard shows brands such as California Baby, Hape, and Babyganics as committed to not advertising on YouTube—while Peak Games’ Toy Blast and Essie nail polish are running ads this November. Interestingly, Wonderful Halos are avoiding YouTube spends this year, despite previously celebrated successes on the platform.

Parents and digital rights activists are available for comment. Please contact lia@fightforthefuture.org for more information.