In Short: The Content Creator Compliance Act (CCCAct) aims to establish clear guidelines for public content creators valid across all social media platforms. It focuses on promoting transparency, ensuring user safety, and holding creators accountable for their content. Key elements include rules against clickbait, restrictions on certain types of content, a warning system for violations, and measures to protect younger audiences. The act also emphasizes the importance of labeling, fact-checking, and collaboration between creators and platforms to create a fair and sustainable online environment.

In full: We demand a Content Creator Compliance Act. A brief disclaimer at the outset: This is not about bashing content creators, censoring them, or restricting freedom of expression. It's about bringing more transparency to content to make it easily distinguishable for users. Additionally, it aims to consider youth protection and regulate certain content. Currently, we believe there are too many gray areas being exploited. What specifically are we calling for?

Content Creator Obligations:

• Abstain from using clickbait titles.
• Abstain from using clickbait thumbnails.
• A.I. generated content must be labeled. An influencer needs to personally verify themselves once they reach a certain reach. Our suggestion is a threshold of 5,000 subscribers.
• Refrain from advertising alcohol, drugs, gambling, cigarettes or tobacco, vapes, and highly sexual or sexualized content.
• Avoid sharing links (via third parties) leading to the aforementioned content.
• The aforementioned content should not be the main focus of posts, videos or streams unless the creator critically addresses the topic to educate about risks and dangers.
• Videos featuring the above or briefly corresponding to the main storyline should include a disclaimer about the associated dangers.
• Content Creators must refrain from spreading falsehoods, engaging in bashing against specific individuals, and clearly label staged content (scripted pranks/reality).
• Paid user-generated content and videos advertising a product must be clearly marked as such in both the description and the video itself, covering at least 25% of the screen.
•  This labeling should include the following information: client, product name, and product manufacturer. Promotion codes are not allowed within this space.
• The labeling must be multi-faceted and easily readable. Products not central to the narrative or unpaid reviews need not be labeled.
• If experiences with products are shared, scientific sources must be provided. If personal experiences are discussed, the Content Creator must inform viewers that these experiences are purely subjective and may not align with those of others.

Platform Obligations:

• Implement a reporting function to capture creator violations.
• Creators violating the CCC should receive warnings.
• If warnings are repeatedly issued and the Content Creator does not improve, suspension is enforceable.
• Social media platforms, given their substantial earnings, should assume responsibility for protecting users, especially young users.
• Social media platforms must take stricter measures against bots and scammers to ensure the long-term safety of all users.
  
  

I also call on all influencers and content creators to contribute to shaping the CCCAct, share ideas, and support us in establishing a CCCAct that is reasonable, fair, and sustainably viable for all parties involved.

 

What are the next steps:

Let us together define specific guidelines for content creation, including rules on clickbait, explicit content, and substance-related promotions.

Let us together form a board, including representatives from various stakeholders, to oversee and revise the CCCAct, ensuring a balanced approach.

Platforms need to implement a warning system for content creators who violate the guidelines and gradually escalate consequences for repeated violations, leading to temporary or permanent suspension.

Platforms need to establish a user-friendly reporting mechanism to allow users to report content that violates guidelines.

Platforms need to take measures to protect younger audiences, such as restrictions on certain content types or age-appropriate labeling.

 

Platforms need to mandate clear labeling for sponsored content, user-generated content, and any content where the main focus is a product or service.

 

Platforms need to invest in fact-checking mechanisms to combat the spread of misinformation.

Platforms should be transparent in how algorithms decide content visibility to avoid biased or harmful outcomes.

We ask platforms to invest in research and data analysis to understand emerging trends and potential risks in social media content.

 

We hereby also request all governments to support us in implementing a CCCAct valid across all social media platforms, and to encourage platforms operating in your country to implement the CCCAct accordingly.

Thanks for your support!