The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) contacted a direct selling company (“Company”) regarding a Facebook post disseminated by a Company salesforce member that was located overseas. The social media post came to DSSRC’s attention pursuant to its independent monitoring of advertising in the direct selling marketplace. More specifically, the post included express claims that the Company’s products and/or the ingredients contained in the products are efficacious to treat the symptoms of a number of serious health-related conditions including anemia and breast, colon and lung cancer. The post was accompanied by several health-related hashtags that referenced blood pressure, asthma and cancer.

The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) contacted a direct selling company (“Company”) regarding two social media posts disseminated by its salesforce members, one found on YouTube and one found on Facebook. The subject claims and social media posts came to DSSRC’s attention pursuant to its independent monitoring of advertising in the direct selling marketplace.

The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) contacted a direct selling company (“Company”) regarding two identical Facebook posts disseminated by two separate salesforce members. The subject claims and social media posts came to DSSRC’s attention pursuant to its independent monitoring of advertising in the direct selling marketplace.

The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) contacted a direct selling company (“Company”) regarding three identical Facebook posts disseminated by three separate salesforce members. The subject claims and social media posts came to DSSRC’s attention pursuant to its independent monitoring of advertising in the direct selling marketplace. 

The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (“DSSRC”) contacted a direct selling company (the “Company”) regarding three Facebook posts and a YouTube video disseminated by Company salesforce members. The three Facebook posts all referenced an antioxidant ingredient in the Company’s product that was purportedly efficacious against certain disease conditions including, but not limited to, ADHD, autism and cancer. Of additional concern to DSSRC, were representations made in the YouTube video that the Company products work to renew, replenish and protect cells in the body and has helped the salesforce members to “fight this pandemic”. 

The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (“DSSRC”) contacted a direct selling company (the “Company”) regarding a social media post disseminated by a Company sales force member on YouTube. The subject claim which involved an earnings claim regarding the amount of income that can be realized by the Company’s business opportunity, came to DSSRC’s attention pursuant to its independent monitoring of advertising in the direct selling marketplace.

The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (“DSSRC”) contacted a direct selling company (“Company”) regarding a video that was identified during DSSRC’s monitoring of the direct selling industry and which was disseminated by a member of the Company salesforce team. In the video, the salesforce member makes unqualified representations regarding the potential of earning significant income within one year through participating in the Company’s business opportunity. The video also included several references to “6-figure earners” and testimonials indicating that “In less than 2 years I was able to match his [her husband’s] income - $135,000 a year” and that, as part of the Company’s compensation plan, some salesforce members were earning $275,000 a year.

The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (“DSSRC”) opened an inquiry with a direct selling company (the “Company”) regarding one Facebook post and one YouTube video that were disseminated by Company salesforce members located in Europe. The Facebook post made reference to “boosting the immune system” to protect against the corona virus during the winter months. The YouTube video similarly included claims regarding the ability of the Company’s product to treat several health-related conditions including the coronavirus.

The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (“DSSRC”) contacted a direct selling company (the “Company”) regarding a testimonial video that was posted on Vimeo by a Company salesforce member. DSSRC was concerned that the video, which touted the salesforce member’s earnings as a direct seller, could be reasonably interpreted as implying that a new or prospective salesforce member of the Company could expect to earn full-time income, career-level income, or income sufficient to replace a full-time job.

The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (“DSSRC”) contacted a direct selling company (the “Company”) regarding four Facebook posts disseminated by Company salesforce members. All four posts referenced the products ability to treat coronavirus by virtue of the product’s efficacy at boosting the immune system. While some of the claims expressly identified COVID-19  (e.g., “Lets fight COVID-19 – Boost your immunity”) other claims made general reference to fighting viruses in a context that DSSRC determined could be interpreted by consumers as referring specifically to COVID-19 (e.g., “Helps you get rid of the virus”). Two of the posts were disseminated by sales force members located in foreign countries.

The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (“DSSRC”) contacted a direct selling company (the “Company”) regarding two social media posts made by salesforce members of the Company.  Both posted touted the income opportunity afforded by the direct selling opportunity. In the context in which the posts were made, DSSRC was concerned with the claim that the opportunity afforded Company salesforce members with financial freedom.

The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (“DSSRC”) contacted a direct selling company (the “Company”) regarding two Facebook posts disseminated by Company salesforce members. DSSRC was concerned that the posts could be reasonably interpreted as meaning that the direct selling company’s products can treat or prevent several serious health-related conditions.

The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (“DSSRC”) contacted a direct selling company (“Company”) regarding two Facebook posts and two Instagram posts disseminated by Company salesforce members that were identified during DSSRC’s monitoring of the direct selling industry. DSSRC expressed its concern to the Company that all four posts either expressly communicated or implied that the Company’s products could treat a number of health-related conditions including infertility, diabetes, arthritis and cancer. 

The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (“DSSRC”) contacted a direct selling company (the “Company”) regarding one Facebook post and one online video disseminated by Company salesforce members. The marketing materials came to DSSRC’s attention pursuant to its independent monitoring of advertising in the direct selling marketplace. DSSRC expressed concern to the Company that both social media posts conveyed unreal expectations regarding the amount of income that could be earned working at the Company. For example, the video included references to “replacing full time income” and the Facebook post claimed that through the Company business opportunity sales force members could earn “thousands of dollars a month.” 

Social media advertising for a direct selling company that markets health and wellness products came to the attention of the Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) pursuant to its monitoring of the direct selling industry. DSSRC identified two Facebook posts that were disseminated by a Company salesforce member as communicating egregious health-related claims. One post listed several serious health-related conditions that can purportedly be treated by product use. In addition, the second post referred to the product as an “immunity protector” and was accompanied by the hashtags “Immune System” “Covid Protection” and “Covid19.”

The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (“DSSRC”) contacted a direct selling company (the “Company”) regarding five social media posts disseminated by Company salesforce members on Facebook and Instagram.  DSSRC was concerned that five of the social media posts conveyed unsubstantiated product, health and wellness benefits including claims that the Company’s products provide immune support that may protect against diseases including COVID-19 and influenza. DSSRC also brought a sixth social media post to the direct selling company’s attention that contained more generic product claims including the product being “anti-inflammatory” and a great source of antioxidants.

The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) contacted a direct selling company (“Company”) regarding three Facebook posts disseminated by its salesforce members. The subject claims and social media posts came to DSSRC’s attention pursuant to its independent monitoring of advertising in the direct selling marketplace. 

The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (“DSSRC”) contacted a direct selling company (the “Company”) regarding five social media posts disseminated by Company salesforce members on Facebook and Instagram.  DSSRC was concerned that five of the social media posts conveyed unsubstantiated product, health and wellness benefits including claims that the Company’s products provide immune support that may protect against diseases including COVID-19 and influenza. DSSRC also brought a sixth social media post to the direct selling company’s attention that contained more generic product claims including the product being “anti-inflammatory” and a great source of antioxidants.

The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) contacted a direct selling company regarding five social media posts (i.e., four Facebook posts and one Instagram post) disseminated by independent salesforce members on behalf of the Company. The three social media posts came to DSSRC’s attention pursuant to its independent monitoring of advertising in the direct selling marketplace. 

The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (“DSSRC”) contacted a direct selling company (“Company”) regarding four Facebook posts disseminated by Company salesforce members that were identified during DSSRC’s monitoring of the direct selling industry. DSSRC expressed its concern to the Company that two posts implied that the Company’s products offer protection from COVID-19. The two other social media posts referenced the Company’s business opportunity that would allow salesforce members to receive “residual income” and find a source of income during the coronavirus pandemic.