Tuesday, September 10, 2019

FTC Probes Kids' Toy Review YouTube Channel


A popular YouTube channel hosted by an eight-year-old boy is being probed over claims it is “deceiving” kids into buying toys., according to The Sun.

Schoolboy Ryan Kaji and his parents make a reported $22 million a year testing out new games and treats on the Ryan ToysReview channel.

But just months after being named the highest paid YouTube star, Ryan’s channel is now being investigated by the Federal Trade Commission.

Watchdog group Truth in Advertising complained that Ryan ToysReview does not declare its ads and sponsored content clearly enough.

Almost 90% of Ryan’s videos include at least one paid product recommendation aimed at kids, who are too young to tell the difference between an ad and a review, the complaint states.

The watchdog accused the channel of deceiving children through “sponsored videos that often have the look and feel of organic content”, the New York Times reports.

Ryan has worked with Walmart, Hasbro, Netflix and Nickelodeon — partnerships the watchdog says are not always declared clearly enough

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