Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Image
Older person using a computer
Older person using a computer - Credit: monkeybusiness / DepositPhotos - License: DepositPhotos
Tech
online advertising
ACM
ANBO
elderly
Edwin van Houten
Anneke Sipkens
Tuesday, 21 June 2022 - 14:50
Share this:
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
  • reddit

Older internet users confuse adverts with real search engine results, says watchdog

The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) is launching a campaign to inform older internet users about the dangers of online advertisements. According to the regulator, people over the age of 65 are not well able to recognize advertisements on search engines like Google and therefore run the risk of ending up with unreliable parties.

ACM and senior citizens' association ANBO jointly conducted a poll in which 38 percent of participating over-65-year-olds said that they found it difficult to tell the difference between an advertisement and a regular search result. A quarter said that they did not pay attention to the distinction at all.

"Especially if you need something quickly, it is important to look carefully, compare and choose with care," said Edwin van Houten, director of Consumers at the ACM. "This prevents you from ending up with an unreliable party and subsequently receiving an unexpectedly high bill."

"This campaign is aimed at recognizing advertisements next to the other search results," said Van Houten said. It is about paying attention to the word "advertisement' in a search result. 

Senior citizens' association ANBO is happy with the campaign, which will take the form of videos on social media. "It is important that older people can be online safely. This campaign helps them with that," said director Anneke Sipkens. 

Reporting by ANP

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • About 150 houses heavily damaged after Zierikzee tornado
  • Necklace worth €27 million snatched in Tefaf Maastricht art fair robbery: Report
  • Philips: Issues with sleep apnea machines less harmful than thought
  • Instructor, student killed in small plane crash on Tuesday
  • Covid hospital patient total jumps 17 percent; New infections rise by 29 percent
  • Supreme Court confirms mother's conviction for girl's fatal fall from Hoogeveen flat

Top stories

  • Necklace worth €27 million snatched in Tefaf Maastricht art fair robbery: Report
  • Covid hospital patient total jumps 17 percent; New infections rise by 29 percent
  • Small plane crashes in Flevoland lake; Rescuers working to save victims
  • Farmers burning hay bales on highways with more nitrogen policy protests expected
  • Health Min. wants to expand euthanasia access to terminally ill children under 12
  • Woman, 73, killed in Zeeland tornado

© 2012-2022, NL Times, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Partner content