Disclosure Quick Reference
A one-screen reference: disclosure placement by platform and acceptable versus unacceptable labels by market.
A one-screen reference to disclosure placement by platform and to acceptable versus unacceptable labels by market. Use it as a quick check; follow the links for the reasoning behind each rule.
Placement by platform
| Platform | Where | Manner |
|---|---|---|
| Blog / website | Above the fold, before first link | Visible text |
| First 2–3 caption lines, before “more” | Text (“#ad”) | |
| TikTok / Reels | Early | Spoken + on-screen |
| YouTube | At the start | Spoken + on-screen |
| Live stream | Repeated throughout | Spoken + on-screen |
| Stories | Superimposed, legible | On-screen |
| Near top / before content | Visible text | |
| Podcast | Near the recommendation | Spoken |
Labels by market
| Market | Acceptable | Not acceptable |
|---|---|---|
| US (FTC) | #ad, “Paid link,” “I earn a commission” | #sp, #collab, bare “affiliate” |
| UK (ASA/CMA) | Ad, Advert, Advertisement | #aff, #spon, Gifted, “in association with” |
| EU | Clear “advertisement”/paid label + paid-ranking disclosure | Hidden or ambiguous labels |
| Canada | #ad, #sponsored, #GiftedProduct (in content’s language) | SP, Spon, #collab, tag alone |
| Australia | #ad, Paid Partnership, Branded Content | #sp, gifted, Affiliate, Collab |
The universal minimum
If you do only one thing on every monetized piece of content: place a clear, plainly worded disclosure — using the word “ad” or “I earn a commission” — in the same medium as the recommendation, before the audience can act on it. That satisfies the core requirement in all five markets.
Full detail: disclosures by platform and international overview.
Last reviewed July 2026. This page is general educational information, not legal or tax advice.