sponsored content

[spon-serd kon-tent]

noun

1. advertising that a brand pays an online publisher to create and seamlessly integrate, conforming to the design, format, and content of the website or social media feed where it is published.

   It’s hard to distinguish your search results from sponsored content, so you have to pay attention to what you’re clicking.

Word History and Origins

Origin of sponsored content¹

First recorded in 1990–95

Example Sentences

The Federal Communications Commission has leveled a $13.4-million fine against Sinclair Broadcast Group for failing to identify sponsored content that aired on its TV stations.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

And Dropout’s leadership is mindful of that relationship; Kerns says the company avoids ads and sponsored content on the site due to an “understanding with our audience of this is a safe and comfortable space … the moment we’re trying to get people to buy Sprite inside of that ecosystem I think that feels icky.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Of course other social media sites allow users to make money from posts and let them share sponsored content - this is not uncommon - but most major sites have rules that allow them to de-monetise or suspend profiles that post misinformation.

Read more on BBC

These creator programs - which reward users for likes, comments and shares, and allow them to post sponsored content - have been linked to its rise.

Read more on BBC

TikTok and YouTube allow users to make money from their posts or to share sponsored content too, but have rules which allow them to de-monetise or suspend profiles that post misinformation.

Read more on BBC