{
  "schema_version": "1.1",
  "id": "ftc-sp-spon-collab-not-clear-disclosures",
  "slug": "ftc-sp-spon-collab-not-clear-disclosures",
  "url": "https://groundedkit.com/claims/ftc-sp-spon-collab-not-clear-disclosures/",
  "api_url": "https://groundedkit.com/api/claims/ftc-sp-spon-collab-not-clear-disclosures.json",
  "claim": "The FTC says 'sp', 'spon' and 'collab' are not clear disclosures; '#ad', 'ad' or 'sponsored' are",
  "commonly_cited_as": "\"#sp or #collab is enough to disclose a paid post\" (false)",
  "verdict": "verified",
  "verdict_definition": "Primary source found; it says the same thing, the scope matches, and it is reasonably current.",
  "confidence": "high",
  "rating": {
    "value": 5,
    "best": 5,
    "worst": 1
  },
  "origin": {
    "publisher": "Federal Trade Commission",
    "title": "Disclosures 101 for Social Media Influencers (Nov. 2019)",
    "year": "2019"
  },
  "quote": "So are terms like \"advertisement,\" \"ad,\" and \"sponsored.\" ... Don't use vague or confusing terms like \"sp,\" \"spon,\" or \"collab,\" or stand-alone terms like \"thanks\" or \"ambassador,\"",
  "method": "FTC staff guidance brochure.",
  "drift": [
    "None — also: don't bury the disclosure in a group of hashtags or behind 'more'"
  ],
  "interest": "n/a (federal regulator).",
  "safe_rephrasing": "FTC staff guidance says to use clear words like 'ad', 'advertisement' or 'sponsored' with the post, and to avoid vague tags such as 'sp', 'spon' or 'collab'.",
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "FTC — Disclosures 101 for Social Media Influencers",
      "url": "https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/disclosures-101-social-media-influencers",
      "primary": true
    }
  ],
  "kind": "reference_fact",
  "as_of": "FTC staff brochure (Nov. 2019)",
  "last_checked": "2026-10-16",
  "stale": false,
  "date_reviewed": "2026-10-16",
  "license": "CC BY 4.0",
  "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"
}