Can elevator advertisements display any content? Do not touch these 5 types of content

I have seen various advertisements in elevators, from real estate to education, from medical beauty to loans. Can I submit any content

This is the first question that many beginners have when preparing to place elevator advertisements. The answer is very clear: no. Elevator advertising, as a form of media in public places, is strictly regulated by multiple laws and regulations such as the Advertising Law, Cybersecurity Law, and Law on the Protection of Minors. Wrong investment can result in the removal of the screen and wasted costs, or even administrative penalties or legal proceedings.

This article will help you thoroughly understand what content can be placed in elevator advertisements from four dimensions: legal red lines, industry restrictions, content review, and common pitfalls, so that you can pass the review smoothly on your first placement.

1、 The 'red line content' explicitly prohibited by law
According to the Advertising Law of the People's Republic of China, the following content is absolutely prohibited from appearing in elevator advertisements:

Absolutely prohibited category:

Use absolute terms such as "national level", "highest level", "best", "first", etc. (Article 9 of the Advertising Law)

Content that damages national dignity and leaks state secrets

Content that hinders social stability and harms public interests

Content that endangers personal and property safety and leaks personal privacy

Content that obstructs public order or violates good social customs

Content containing obscenity, pornography, gambling, superstition, terror, and violence

Content that contains discrimination based on ethnicity, race, religion, or gender

Medical, pharmaceutical, and medical device advertisements: shall not contain assertions or guarantees of efficacy or safety; Do not disclose the cure rate or effectiveness rate; Do not use advertising spokespersons as recommendations or proofs; It is not allowed to compare the efficacy and safety with other drugs and medical devices.

Health food advertisements: shall not contain assertions or guarantees of efficacy or safety; It shall not involve disease prevention or treatment functions; It is not allowed to claim or imply that the advertised product is necessary to protect health; Do not compare with drugs or other health foods.

2、 Special Restrictions for Elevator Scenarios
Elevators are enclosed public places that cater to vulnerable groups such as the elderly and children, therefore there are additional restrictions:

Restrictions on minors (Article 40 of the Advertising Law): Advertising activities shall not be carried out in primary and secondary schools or kindergartens; It is not allowed to use textbooks, teaching aids, exercise books, stationery, teaching aids, school uniforms, school buses, etc. for primary and secondary school students and young children to publish or indirectly publish advertisements; Advertisements targeting minors must not contain content that persuades them to ask their parents to purchase.

Special requirements for elevator advertisements: must not contain elements of terror or horror to avoid causing discomfort to passengers; Do not use irritating sounds (the volume of the elevator smart screen should be controlled within a reasonable range); It shall not contain content that induces minors to imitate dangerous behavior.

3、 Special industries that require pre-approval
Advertisements in the following industries must obtain approval documents from relevant regulatory authorities before being placed:

Medical, pharmaceutical, and medical device: A "Medical Advertising Review Certificate" and a "Drug Advertising Review Form" are required.

Health food: A Health Food Advertising Review Form is required.

Pesticides and veterinary drugs: Relevant review and approval documents are required.

Real estate: A pre-sale permit and proof that the project name is consistent with the approved name of the place name office must be provided. Advertisements must not contain promises of "appreciation".

Education and training: shall not contain any guarantee commitment regarding the effectiveness of further education or exams, and shall not explicitly or implicitly involve relevant examination institutions or their staff.

Financial management: Approval documents from financial regulatory authorities must be provided, and must not contain commitments such as "guaranteed capital and guaranteed returns".

Investment Promotion: Relevant project approval documents must be provided, and there must be no guarantee commitment for future returns.

4、 The core points of content review
Before the elevator advertisement is placed, both the media (such as Focus Media) and the property management company will conduct content review. Key focus of the audit:

Text review:

Do absolute terms exist (most, first, top, ultimate, etc.)

Is there any false or misleading statement

Does it involve disease treatment functions (especially for ordinary food and health products)

Does the data have a source (such as providing proof for "top sales")

Screen review:

Are there any elements of nudity, violence, or terror present

Are there any negative implications

Is it suitable for all age groups to watch

Audio review (applicable to smart screens):

Is the volume too loud

Is there any stimulating sound

Is the content suitable for broadcasting in public places

5、  How to Ensure Compliance with Advertising Content
Step 1: Self inspection Content

Compare the above red line content and first check the advertising copy, visuals, and audio on your own. The most common problem for beginners is using absolute language and exaggerating effectiveness.

Step 2: Prepare qualification documents

Prepare relevant supporting documents in advance according to the industry category:

business license

Trademark registration certificate or authorization letter

Industry license (such as food business license, medical advertising review certificate, etc.)

Proof of data source (if data is required)

Step 3: Submit for media review

Submit materials and qualification documents through a legitimate agency or directly to the media. The review cycle is usually 1-3 working days, and special industries may require longer time.

Step 4: Property registration

Some residential properties may require registration of advertising content. Ensure that the advertising screen does not affect the opening and closing of the elevator doors, does not obstruct emergency signs, and does not pose any safety hazards.

Step 5: Final confirmation before publication

Before advertising, confirm that the review has been approved, the qualifications are complete, and the installation location meets the requirements.

6、 The 4 easiest pitfalls for beginners to step into
Pit 1: Use absolute language

'Industry first', 'Global best', 'Lowest on the entire network' - these are all minefields. Even if your product is indeed leading, it cannot be expressed in this way. Suggest changing it to objective statements such as "industry-leading" and "deeply trusted by consumers".

Pit 2: Promotion effectiveness of ordinary food

Drinking this, losing ten pounds in three days "" Eating this, enhancing immunity "- ordinary foods cannot promote disease prevention and treatment functions. Health foods cannot promote their therapeutic effects.

Pit Three: Neglecting the Protection of Minors

Placing alcohol advertisements, adult content, and violent images in community elevators may result in complaints from parents. Ensure that the content is suitable for all age groups to watch.

Pit 4: Unauthorized use of someone else's image

Before using celebrity photos, internet celebrity photos, or customer photos, written authorization must be obtained. Otherwise, one may face lawsuits for infringement of portrait rights.

7、Conclusion
Can elevator advertisements display any content? The answer is: no. Elevator advertising is subject to the dual constraints of the Advertising Law and special requirements for elevator scenes. Absolute language, false advertising, medical efficacy, sexual violence, and inappropriate content for minors are all "forbidden zones".

For beginners, it is better to seek professional advertising platforms to assist in monitoring rather than exploring and stepping into pitfalls on their own. A legitimate platform familiar with advertising laws and review processes can help you avoid risks in advance and ensure the smooth publication of advertisements.

Tianci Media is a professional elevator advertising platform that provides one-stop services from content review, qualification preparation to publication execution, helping you avoid compliance risks and making advertising placement more worry free and safe. Consult now for your exclusive elevator advertising placement plan!