The video was also likely in breach of Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) regulations stating ads must not include features which could adversely affect sufferers of photosensitive epilepsy. According to the Mayo Clinic, about one in 26 people in the U.S. will develop a seizure disorder. Epilepsy is a medical condition that induces seizures when nerve cell activity in the patient is disrupted by unusual lighting patterns such as flashing lights.
Advertisement
An episode of Japanese cartoon Pokemon was famously blamed for triggering convulsions in 1997.
Twitter has come under fire for posting flashing video adverts that could have posed a risk to epileptic users.
Simon Wigglesworth, Epilepsy Action’s deputy chief executive, told the BBC: “Twitter’s ads were unsafe to people living with photosensitive epilepsy”.
“We take very seriously ads in online media that might cause harm to people with photosensitive epilepsy”, stated ASA’s spokesperson.
Twitter has removed two brightly flashing adverts from its site after being branded “irresponsible” by an epilepsy charity.
Epilepsy Action said it was “pleased” that Twitter had replied to its messages and removed the posts.
To its credit, Twitter’s worldwide communications director Rachel Bremer responded to Epilepsy Action’s tweet in less than an hour, telling the organization that the Discover Music Vines had been deleted.
Advertisement
“We appreciate your feedback”, she said on Twitter.
