Sex and nudity and discrimination/vilification continue to be the most complained about issues in ads, according to the Ad Standards Community Panel.
Ad Standards, in its review of the 5,241 complaints in 2019, down from 6,696 in 2018, looked at a range of media channels covered by the advertising codes, including social media.
The review says complaints received by Ad Standards also reflect increased community concern about ads with violence or content which is exploitative or degrading.
Of the 5,241 total complaints lodged in 2019, the Ad Standards Community Panel considered cases about 368 different advertisements. Advertisers voluntarily withdrew 39 ads. The number of dismissed complaints was 488.
The most complained (740) about advertisement in 2019 was a free-to-air television commercial for sanitary products showing everyday depictions of menstruation. The complaint was dismissed.
The second most complained about ad with 366 complaints was a TVC for a sports betting app showing protesters, a scam victim and a sports personality. Concerns ranged from discrimination or vilification to sex, sexuality and nudity, and language.
Complaints about food and beverage advertisements topped the product category list.
The second most complained about product category in 2019 was lingerie at 11.79%.
Gambling fell to 4.67% from 23.12%.
Categories:
Free-to-air television weas the most complained about media at 71.33%.
Second was billboards at 4.03%.
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