Native Advertising

Abstract: Native advertising is a form of advertising that blends into the form and function of the digital environment in which it is placed (Campbell and Marks, 2015; FTC, 2015a, 2015b; IAB, 2013; Wojdynski and Evans, 2016). Similar in form to advertorials (Kim, Pasadeos and Barban, 2001; van Reijmersdal, Neijens, and Smit, 2005), native advertising potentially raises ethical concerns since it can mask the source and commercial intent of the advertisement (Petty and Andrews, 2008; Wojdynski and Evans, 2016). In response to these concerns, the FTC has developed guidelines for appropriate disclosure in native advertising (FTC, 2015a, 2015b) as well as hosted events dedicated to better understanding how consumers respond to native advertising (FTC, 2013, 2016). Conceptual (e.g. Carlson, 2005; Campbell and Marks, 2015) and empirical (e.g. Lee, Kim, and Ham, 2016; Wojdynski, 2016; Wojdynski and Evans, 2016) academic understanding of native advertising is also developing. Despite these advances, there much remains to be discovered about this new ad form. Our goal with this special session is promote research on the important policy, business, and marketing implications stemming from the growth of native advertising. Our aim is to bridge current understanding across these different spheres, stimulate conversation on this important topic, and identify policy-relevant research opportunities. In short, the session will synthesize current knowledge of native advertising and advance an agenda of where research on this topic is needed.