Advertising Policies

Last updated on November 18, 2025

Overview

The purpose of these policies is to provide guidance on the types of advertising content that are allowed on Business Insider's websites and other digital properties, including Insider, Business Insider, and Markets Insider ("Business Insider Properties"). These policies are designed to not only abide by laws, but to also ensure a safe and positive experience for our users. While these policies are meant to guide decisions on which advertisements are acceptable, each ad will be judged individually on how it impacts Insider's brand, and therefore can be denied even if the ad does not technically qualify as prohibited content or content subject to further review. The Business Standards Board sets all policies with the following considerations: legality, brand reputation, and experience for our users. Insider reserves the right to accept or reject at any time advertising for any product or service submitted for publication and to remove advertising that has been posted. By advertising on Business Insider Properties, in addition to these Advertising Policies, advertisers accept and agree to abide by our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Our Advertising Policies may be updated from time to time, so you're encouraged to check back for updates.

Prohibited Content

The following advertising or sponsored content cannot be published on Business Insider Properties due to legal, regulatory, and branding concerns. The content itself may be illegal or the advertising of that type of content may be illegal.

• Adult Content

  • Edgy or bizarre

  • References to sex

    • Ads that are suggestive, relate to or refer to sex, including adult products and services

• Counterfeit Goods

  • Counterfeits and fakes

    • Advertising for counterfeits, fake goods, or bootleg productions, including replicas or imitations of designer products

    • Counterfeit goods are goods, including digital goods, that are promoted, sold, or otherwise distributed using a trademark or brand that is identical to, or substantially similar to, the trademark or brand of another, without authorization from the trademark or brand owner

  • False or misleading reference to any of the Business Insider Properties

    • Advertising that uses the name or logo of any of the Business Insider Properties, or makes any other references to any of the Business Insider Properties (unless the content was created, published, or approved by Insider)

• Dangerous Products or Services

  • Guns and firearms

    • Advertising for guns, firearms, other weapons, or ammunition

  • Fireworks and other explosives

    • Advertising for products that are designed to explode and could cause damage to people or property

    • Advertising for instructional content about the assembly, enhancement, or acquisition of explosive items

• Discriminatory Practices

  • Hate content

  • Racial, gender, and other discrimination

    • Content that incites (or tends to incite) hatred against, promotes discrimination of, or disparages an individual or group on the basis of their race or ethnic origin, religion, disability, age, nationality, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or any other characteristic that is associated with systemic discrimination or marginalization

• Enabling Dishonest Behavior

  • Downloadable utilities

    • Advertising for "downloadable utilities" - software for download which is designed to enhance the functionality of an operating system or device, whether desktop or mobile (e.g., anti-virus software, file converters, driver updaters, system cleaners, download managers, disk defragmenters, codecs, browser toolbars, ringtones, screensavers or wallpapers)