Why websites should be classed as advertising

I gave a speech to the AGM of NSPCC today - on a subject that I am passionate about, which is children’s rights in a commercial world. I argue that children’s websites should be classed as advertising and so subject to the rules of the Committee on Advertising Practice, and the Advertising Standards Authority. The idea that you can get away with anything in terms of marketing to children simply because it is online has surely had its day, because so much marketing has moved online. You could say the same for all commercial content on websites, but the case for action on behalf of children has to be a priority. I have written an open letter on behalf of Consumer Focus to the Advertising Association to ask nicely whether they will open the door to this.