But according to Angela Campbell, counsel for CCFC and CDD, Google simply changed its policy so it doesn’t apply to traditional TV commercials or longer promotional videos.

YouTube Kids app is facing complaints from advocacy groups due to videos and ads that promote junk food.

The CCFC claims Google is engaged in “harmful, unethical, and irresponsible practices” that target the youngest children.

YouTube said “We only show ads that are approved as family-friendly – for example, we don’t show any food and beverage ads – and all ads undergo a rigorous review process for compliance with our policies”.

It is the second complaint to the FTC over advertising to children on YouTube Kids. Advocacy groups are seeing this as a big problem as children spend more time watching videos online.

It took nine months for the app to be available outside the USA, probably because of the complaints that keep pouring in, Yahoo News added.

The CCFC and the CDD have filed complaints against the mobile kids app YouTube Kids over junk food ads, saying that advertisers violated their pledges as members of the CFBAI. However, that covers the pre-roll ads that YouTube itself shows between videos in the YouTube Kids app.

The groups want the FTC to broaden its investigation of YouTube Kids to include Google’s relationships with multichannel video programmers; food, beverage and toy companies; its major YouTube advertising and “unboxing” video partners; and companies that specialize in “influencer” and product placement marketing on YouTube.

“We also ask YouTube creators to disclose if their videos contain paid product placement or incentivized endorsements and we exclude those videos from the YouTube Kids app. The app contains a wide-range of content, including videos with food-related themes, but these are not paid advertisements”, the spokesperson said.

“We believe FTC now has more than enough documentation to hold Google accountable for YouTube Kids’ unfair and deceptive practices”, says Golin.

The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC) and the Center for Digital Democracy (CDD) led the actions.

YouTube Kids, YouTube’s first app aimed at the preschool set, was initially thought of as a relief for parents who wanted an easier way to keep small children from stumbling upon YouTube’s more adult fare.

Children’s Advocates Complain YouTube Kids Is Full of Junk-Food Content