Ad Guidelines
Last Updated: February 26, 2026
These guidelines outline the content policies and creative requirements for advertisements served through the FifthBoston Ad Network. All ads must comply with these guidelines to maintain the quality and trustworthiness of our network.
1. General Principles
All advertisements on our platform must:
- Be truthful and not misleading
- Clearly identify the advertiser
- Not deceive users about the nature of the content
- Comply with all applicable laws and regulations
- Respect intellectual property rights
- Provide a positive user experience
- Lead to functional, relevant landing pages
2. Prohibited Content
The following content is strictly prohibited:
⛔ Illegal Products & Services
Drugs, weapons, counterfeit goods, illegal activities
⛔ Adult Content
Pornography, explicit sexual content, escort services
⛔ Hate & Violence
Discrimination, hate speech, graphic violence, terrorism
⛔ Deceptive Practices
Fake news, phishing, malware, misleading claims
⛔ Dangerous Products
Recreational drugs, tobacco, explosives, unsafe supplements
⛔ Scams & Fraud
Get-rich-quick schemes, pyramid schemes, fake testimonials
2.1 Additional Prohibited Categories
- Content promoting self-harm or eating disorders
- Unauthorized use of copyrighted material
- Products targeting minors inappropriately
- Spyware, malware, or any malicious software
- Unauthorized data collection or privacy violations
- Political ads that spread misinformation
- Miracle cures or unsubstantiated health claims
3. Restricted Content
The following categories require prior approval and may have additional requirements:
⚠️ Alcohol
Must comply with local laws, age-gating required
⚠️ Gambling & Gaming
Requires proper licensing, geographic restrictions apply
⚠️ Financial Services
Must include required disclosures, no misleading returns
⚠️ Healthcare & Pharma
Must comply with FDA regulations, proper disclaimers required
⚠️ CBD & Hemp
Legal products only, no health claims, geographic restrictions
⚠️ Political Advertising
Requires disclosure, fact-checking, advertiser verification
To advertise in restricted categories, contact us at compliance@fifthboston.services for approval before submitting your campaign.
4. Creative Requirements
4.1 Supported Ad Formats
- Display: Static images (JPG, PNG, GIF)
- Rich Media: HTML5 (max 200KB initial load)
- Video: MP4, WebM (max 30 seconds, 15MB)
4.2 Standard Ad Sizes
- Medium Rectangle: 300×250
- Leaderboard: 728×90
- Wide Skyscraper: 160×600
- Half Page: 300×600
- Mobile Banner: 320×100
- Mobile Interstitial: 320×480
4.3 Creative Quality Standards
- Images must be high quality (no pixelation or distortion)
- Text must be legible and not exceed 20% of the ad area
- Animation must not be excessively distracting (max 15 seconds loop)
- No flashing content that could trigger seizures
- Sound must be user-initiated (no auto-play audio)
- Clear visual distinction between ad and editorial content
4.4 Prohibited Creative Techniques
- Fake close buttons, system alerts, or error messages
- Mimicking operating system or browser interfaces
- Auto-redirects or pop-ups
- Seizure-inducing strobing or flashing
- Deceptive "play" buttons or fake interactive elements
- Invisible or hidden click areas
5. Landing Page Requirements
All ads must link to landing pages that:
- Are functional and load properly
- Match the ad's claims and offerings
- Clearly identify the advertiser/business
- Include contact information and privacy policy
- Do not auto-download files or install software
- Are mobile-friendly if targeting mobile users
- Do not contain malware or phishing attempts
- Comply with all applicable laws
6. Targeting Restrictions
- No targeting based on sensitive personal attributes (health conditions, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, etc.)
- No targeting children under 13 (COPPA compliance)
- Alcohol and gambling ads must be age-restricted (21+ or legal age)
- No discriminatory targeting in housing, employment, or credit ads
7. Review Process
All advertisements undergo review before serving:
- Automated Scan: Immediate check for technical compliance and known violations
- Human Review: Manual review completed within 24 hours (typically 2-4 hours)
- Approval/Rejection: You'll receive notification with details if rejected
- Appeal: Rejected ads can be appealed with modifications
8. Enforcement
Violations of these guidelines may result in:
- Rejection of the ad creative
- Suspension of active campaigns
- Withholding of payments (for publishers with policy-violating content)
- Temporary or permanent account suspension
- Legal action in cases of fraud or illegal activity
9. Publisher Content Guidelines
Publishers in our network must maintain websites that:
- Contain original, legitimate content
- Do not primarily exist to display ads
- Do not contain prohibited content categories
- Provide clear value to users
- Comply with applicable laws and regulations
- Do not engage in copyright infringement
10. Updates to Guidelines
We may update these guidelines at any time. Material changes will be communicated via email to active advertisers and publishers. Continued use of our platform after updates constitutes acceptance of the revised guidelines.
11. Questions & Support
If you have questions about these guidelines or need help with ad compliance:
Ad Review Team
Email: compliance@fifthboston.services
Response time: Within 24 hours