As ARCON Begins Implementation Of Policy On Pre-Exposure Approvals For Skits, Etc, Nigerians React
Barely 24 hours after the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria, ARCON began implementation of its policy on getting pre-exposure approvals for skit by influencers, and bloggers for any form of advertising on their social media pages, Nigerians took to various platforms to express their thoughts on the issue.
The new directive which was announced last year was further reiterated during a stakeholder/town hall engagement between ARCON, and bloggers, influencers, members of the media, and other stakeholders.
Reacting on social media to the policy, Brand Communicator has aggregated and captioned some of these thoughts below:
In support of the policy, Burabarinwilo said, “…especially those who advertise sex enhancement that hasn’t been approved and crypto exchange houses that steal from people.”
Copywriting_andrea also said “…personally, I’ve always felt there should be a way to regulate what products influencers recommend to their audience, this arrangement makes a lot of sense to me, and I hope it properly effected. It will checkmate a lot of things.”
Nemmzy also reacts by saying, “Nigerians are built differently with a tough skin built to last. The more the rules, the tougher they forge. This one too will produce better influencers.
“I am sure these skit makers make money and do not pay tax, it’s sick how we just justify nonsense. Do you know most influencers don’t do due diligence before taking on an advertisement? They advertise Ponzi schemes because they have the trust of certain people and when it goes south they act like they are not concerned,” Moxie_deeze commented.
In contribution to this “In as much as this is just on the advertisement, I don’t think they are doing too much. Hope the execution is smooth though because getting a normal ARCON approval isn’t easy.”
Speaking against the rule, a confused Daradavids wrote “Is ARCON now in charge of social media? Will they also do vetting for the foreign skits and brand content we view on social media? So what about SME owners who want to run ads too?
Sheundeola said, “this is the most naïve thing ever. The urge to regulate everything is the bane of innovation.”
“This is powered by those elements who accumulate their wealth through taxing everything human beings do including breathing if possible and looting into their private enterprise,” Olamidrey claims.
Also commenting on the development, Aromemulticoncept said, “Firstly you make it difficult for business owners and brands to run ads, now this.”
“Youths want to be silenced, no job opportunities, etc. people are hustling online for survival and the government wants to still benefit from skit makers.”
Onlinehustle said, “Use VPN to upload”
“No country demands approval before exposure for influencers and content creators. ARCON is assuming the job of industry regulator. Proving guidelines and sanctioning those who go against the guidelines.”
“The more the youths are liberated, the more devious the style of oppression,” said ayanime_edem.
“The pre-exposure approval payment will be used for what exactly? How will the skit makers benefit from this scheme? Will you give the people reasons to be a financial member or what exactly are you regulating?” Adedheddie added.
“Influencers or skit makers are not supported by the economy, their investment, their resources, sweat, and blood, with zero enabling environments and you want to earn from it? Another Nigerian commented.
Other Nigerians also lamented that the country’s economy is bad and there is no job which is why they must do something to survive.
However, the Director-General of ARCON, Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, said it has received several complaints on the advertisements, advertising, and marketing communications activities of skit makers, comedians, influencers, content creators/producers, bloggers, vloggers, etc on digital/online media platforms.
He noted that most of the advertisements exposed by this group are not only unethical with unverified claims and misinformation, but also in violation of the Nigerian Code of Advertising Practice.