The FCA has published Guidance clarifying its expectations of firms and ‘finfluencers’ promoting financial services across all social media channels, including memes, reels and gaming streams.
The updated Guidance does not introduce new obligations but clarifies the FCA’s expectations of those promoting financial services on social media and how firms can comply with existing regulations, as it warns firms and ‘finfluencers’ to keep ads lawful.
The FCA reminds firms that any marketing for financial products must be fair, clear and not misleading so consumers can invest, save or borrow with confidence, adding that promotions aren’t just about the ‘likes’, but are about the law. The FCA will take action against those touting financial products illegally.
Last year, the FCA’s increased scrutiny of financial promotions led to the removal of over 10,000 misleading adverts, up from around 8,500 in 2022.
The FCA updated its existing guidance to address consumer harm arising from new and emerging developments in the ever-evolving social media landscape, including the use of new channels, such as Discord and Threads, and influencer platforms and personas to promote complex financial services and products. The regulator highlighted the significant risks that consumers face due to the increased use of social media for marketing, which targets larger audiences with greater speed and frequency.
The guidance reiterates that financial promotions should be clear, should provide key information and must provide a balanced view of the benefits and risks to ensure customers can make effective, informed decisions. It also underscores how these expectations align with firms’ wider obligation to deliver good outcomes for customers under the Consumer Duty.
Key notes:
- Financial promotions must be standalone compliant.
- Some promotions require specific information to be displayed prominently(e.g. risk warning with prescribed wording).
- Firms must consider whether platforms that limit characters or space is appropriate to use for financial promotions; e. Twitter (or ‘X’).
- Firms working with affiliate marketers, such as influencers, must take proactive responsibility for how affiliates communicate financial promotions.
- Unauthorised persons, such as influencers, promoting financial products or services subject to regulation without the approval of an FCA-authorised person may be committing a criminal offence.
- Influencers should consider whether they are the right person to promote a product or service and other rules and standards that may apply to their activities.
The updated guidance reflects the FCA’s commitment to being an “adaptive” regulator, ensuring that the Consumer Duty continues to be implemented widely and effectively and that its activities and stance are responsive to the dynamism of the sector and continuous advancement of technology and its use.
Prior to this update, existing guidance was from 2015. Given the speed at which technology, social media and its use are evolving, it will be challenging for the regulator to ensure its guidance and supervisory work remains effective and relevant throughout continuous, rapid, and disruptive developments in the sector.