Social media giant Twitter has removed two videos containing flashing ads after an epilepsy charity complained that that they could trigger photosensitive fits.
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The looping Vine featured flashing colors that, according to the British Epilepsy Association, could trigger epileptic episodes in individuals with the disorder. But one autoplaying Vine for Twitter’s own #DiscoverMusic hashtag had to be pulled because it could have proven more than simply bothersome for people with photosensitive epilepsy.
Twitter’s Communications Manager, Rachel Brenner, responded to the charity’s tweet, and immediately ensured that the vines were pulled off the platform.
Twitter’s advertisements were up for 18 hours before they were finally removed early Friday morning.
Epilepsy, also known as seizure disorder, is where nerve cell activity can be disturbed by bold patterns or flashing lights, which causes seizures.
“Marketing communications should not include visual effects or techniques that are likely to adversely affect members of the public with photosensitive epilepsy”, Advertising Standards Authority told the BBC.
“Eighty seven people are diagnosed with epilepsy every day and that first seizure can often come out of nowhere”, said Mr Wigglesworth.
Charity Epilepsy Action contacted Twitter to say that the videos were “massively dangerous” and that they should be taken offline.
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“We appreciate your feedback”, she said on Twitter.
