Digital Marketing Complaints Rocket

The Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) has recorded a huge surge in complaints made about companies' digital marketing communications, with figures exceeding 5,500.

5,531 complaints were recorded about brands' online marketing communications since March, when the ASA's remit was extended to cover the area.

The ASA now covers non-paid for online marketing communications under the marketer's control, including social media such as Facebook, as well as companies' own websites. A marketing communication is a type of communication for a good, service, opportunity or gift that primarily sets out to sell something. Marketing communications may set out to sell in a myriad of different ways, and may not necessarily include a price or seek an immediate financial transaction. Also included are direct solicitations for donations as part of a company's own fund-raising activities.