[thewebguyd]

That'd be great. But how would you define what's advertising and what's not?

I've built a relatively successful professional photography side hussle without "advertising" as in, I've never paid for an ad on any of the social platforms or google ads. Most of my business comes from word of mouth, or hits on my website.

But, is the SEO I do advertising? What about when I share my work to my socials, is that advertising? Post a reel of behind the scenes footage of me photographing a wedding so potential clients can see my process, is that advertising?

I do all of those things with the goal to drum up business, but they fall outside of the traditional meaning of the word. Likewise with product placement in films, influencer marketing, etc.

How do we even begin to draw the line at what is an advertisement and whats not?

[Certhas]

We have successfully banned Cigarette ads. Not saying there aren't things to sort out, and lines to be drawn, but it's by no means impossible.

[jacobgkau]

We've successfully banned cigarette ads from TV and radio. We haven't banned them from the wall at gas stations. They're also not banned on the internet, legally.

Do you want to ban advertising, or ban TV and radio advertising?

[noir_lord]

In the UK they are sold behind blank displays and the packaging is generic as well.

Sure it’s Unrelated but smoking is now 1 in 8 adults and dropping.

You can ban this type of advertising if you enforce it.

[Reason077]

Every time I’m back in the UK I’m a bit shocked at how many people seem to smoke and vape compared to other countries. Including many of my friends. There’s still a long way to go!

[xnorswap]

Your jurisdiction might not have, mine has, for almost 30 years now.

They're sold under the counter (literally) / behind shutters, in plain packaging.

They certainly are not advertised on posters.

[AlecSchueler]

> But how would you define what's advertising and what's not?

The same way we define what is and isn't political advertising? Or tobacco advertising, alcohol advertising etc.

> But, is the SEO I do advertising?

No, it's SEO.

> What about when I share my work to my socials, is that advertising? Post a reel

No, this is just sharing your work.

> Likewise with product placement in films, influencer marketing, etc.

Is it really complicated though? We already regulate what can and can't be said in all these forms of advertising.

[thewebguyd]

Sure, but in reality those reuglations either aren't equally enforced, or companies have always found ways around it. I could even argue that SEO should be considered a form of advertising as the intent of SEO is at the end of the day consumer manipulation.

Even with the tobacco advertising ban, tobacco use in movies is still a problem and even if not one specific product, it still encourages smoking and has a real world effect (and this applies to vaping now as well).

Hell, even product placement and merchandising in stores could be advertising. It does influence consumer behavior afterall.

I'm all for getting rid of ads but it the regulation has to have teeth, and be very well defined.

[fph]

It seems quite simple to me. Are you paying for that? Or providing any benefit equivalent to a payment? Then it's an ad.

[AlotOfReading]

Also things like Superbowl advertising that some people actually want to see.

But to enumerate some things distinguishing those from more offensive ads:

* You put effort into making that content engaging and interesting for the audience

* The advertising is at least vaguely relevant to the content around it.

* Someone can opt out of seeing your social media posts, or watching an influencer, or watching the Superbowl. People are annoyed when this is violated, e.g. by coordinated campaigns across many influencers.

* These ads aren't as violently intrusive, with massive volume and color changes or full screen popups.

* These ads are (perceived as) more privacy-respecting than say, Google ads.

* These ads don't displace better content like a billboard does.

In short, they're a more respectful transaction that people have control over.