Google Ads and YouTube health ad policy rules the checker applies

Google Ads and YouTube rules

1. CG-PLT-005 · Warns · Citation checked against stored text

   Selling prescription drugs online without a prescription, from foreign suppliers, or for crypto payment violates drug-sale laws and every major ad platform's rules.

   Source: FDCA 503(b); Google Ads Healthcare and medicines policy; Meta Advertising Standards, Drugs and pharmaceuticals

   Safer wording: Offer a clinical service in which a licensed clinician decides whether to prescribe, and fill prescriptions only through licensed US pharmacies.

   Meta Advertising Standards, Drugs and pharmaceuticals, Google Ads Healthcare and medicines policy · Needs counsel review

2. CG-PLT-003 · Warns · Citation checked against stored text

   Google limits services that prescribe, dispense or sell prescription drugs online. Advertisers must apply, and online pharmacies and telemedicine providers in the United States need accreditation (NABP or LegitScript) and Google certification. An ad that sells a named prescription drug online without that is likely to be disapproved.

   Source: Google Ads Healthcare and medicines policy (prescription drug services, unauthorized pharmacies, United States); Google Ads Prescription drug services policy

   Safer wording: Advertise the clinical service and who decides on treatment. Get Google healthcare certification and LegitScript or NABP accreditation before naming a prescription drug.

   Google Ads Healthcare and medicines policy, Google Ads Prescription drug services policy

3. CG-PLT-017 · Warns · Citation checked against stored text

   Google does not allow products that imply they are as effective as prescription drugs or controlled substances, products with ephedra, or hCG promoted for weight loss or weight control. Amazon, Microsoft, Reddit and Yahoo bar claims that a non-prescription or supplement product is as effective as, or can replace, a prescription drug, and Meta, Reddit and Yahoo list ephedra or hCG among unsafe ingredients.

   Source: Google Ads Healthcare and medicines policy (unapproved substances); Meta Advertising Standards, Unsafe substances; Reddit Ads Healthcare Products and Services policy; Amazon Ads Claims and substantiation policy; Microsoft Advertising Healthcare and Pharmaceutical policy; Yahoo Ad Policy, Over the counter drugs

   Safer wording: Describe what the product is and what it contains, without comparing it to a prescription drug, and drop ephedra and hCG weight-loss wording.

   Meta Advertising Standards, Unsafe substances, Yahoo Ad Policy, Over the counter drugs, Microsoft Advertising Healthcare and Pharmaceutical policy, Reddit Ads Healthcare Products and Services policy, Amazon Ads Claims and substantiation policy, Google Ads Healthcare and medicines policy

4. CG-PLT-018 · Warns · Citation checked against stored text

   Google does not allow claims that entice the user with an improbable result as the likely outcome, and YouTube ads may not carry exaggerated or inaccurate claims. Meta bars claims of unrealistic results within specific timeframes. Microsoft, Amazon and Taboola bar a specific amount or rate of weight loss in a defined period.

   Source: Google Ads Misrepresentation policy (unreliable claims); YouTube and Discover Feed ad requirements (exaggerated or inaccurate claims); Meta Advertising Standards, Unrealistic outcomes; Microsoft Advertising Healthcare and Pharmaceutical policy; Amazon Ads Claims and substantiation policy; Taboola Policy FAQ health and beauty; Reddit Ads Healthcare Products and Services policy

   Safer wording: Drop the timeframe and the number. Describe the service and what a clinician will assess.

   Meta Advertising Standards, Unrealistic outcomes, Taboola Policy FAQ health and beauty, Microsoft Advertising Healthcare and Pharmaceutical policy, Reddit Ads Healthcare Products and Services policy, Amazon Ads Claims and substantiation policy, Google Ads Misrepresentation policy, YouTube and Discover Feed ad requirements

5. CG-PLT-019 · Warns · Citation checked against stored text

   Health is a sensitive interest category on Google. Advertisers in it cannot use advertiser-curated audiences, which include customer match, your data segments, audience expansion and lookalike segments. Meta's Business Tools Terms bar sharing health information and say the names and criteria of custom audiences must not reflect or imply it. Amazon prohibits audiences built from purchases or views of healthcare products and from advertiser data. Targeting by health status can also turn a visit to a clinic site into a disclosure of health information.

   Source: Google Ads Restricted targeting in personalized advertising policy (sensitive interest categories, health); Meta Business Tools Terms (Business Tool Data); Amazon Ads Healthcare products and services policy

   Safer wording: Use contextual or predefined audiences for health offers. Do not build segments from patient lists or condition pages.

   Meta Business Tools Terms, Amazon Ads Healthcare products and services policy, Google Ads Restricted targeting in personalized advertising policy

6. CG-PLT-007 · Warns · Citation checked against stored text

   YouTube and Discover Feed ads may not focus on body parts or health conditions in a way meant to shock, such as a horrifying rash or tooth decay. Meta bars ads that shock, scare or disgust, including graphic details of hygiene such as pimple popping, and Yahoo bars copy that dramatizes distressing symptoms.

   Source: YouTube and Discover Feed ad requirements (improper content, body parts and health conditions); Meta Advertising Standards, Sensational content; Yahoo Ad Policy, Over the counter drugs

   Safer wording: Describe the service neutrally, for example "Book a dermatology visit.", and keep scare wording out of the script.

   Meta Advertising Standards, Sensational content, Yahoo Ad Policy, Over the counter drugs, YouTube and Discover Feed ad requirements

7. CG-PLT-008 · Warns · Citation checked against stored text

   Pinterest does not allow ads for clinical trial recruitment. Google does not allow them in most locations. Microsoft Advertising and Amazon Ads list clinical trials and trial recruitment as prohibited. X, Nextdoor and Reddit allow them only with conditions (X prior authorization, no misleading expectations or claims of safety, registration on ClinicalTrials.gov and IRB oversight).

   Source: Pinterest Advertising Guidelines (healthcare products and services); Google Ads Healthcare and medicines policy (clinical trial recruitment); Microsoft Advertising Healthcare and Pharmaceutical policy; Amazon Ads Healthcare products and services policy; X Ads healthcare policy; Nextdoor Ads Policy; Reddit Ads Healthcare Products and Services policy

   Safer wording: Send people to the registry listing or the sponsor site instead of buying a platform ad, or check the platform and location rules and any IRB approval first.

   Nextdoor Ads Policy, Microsoft Advertising Healthcare and Pharmaceutical policy, Reddit Ads Healthcare Products and Services policy, Amazon Ads Healthcare products and services policy, Google Ads Healthcare and medicines policy, Pinterest Advertising Guidelines, X Ads healthcare policy

8. CG-PLT-010 · Warns · Citation checked against stored text

   Pharmacy ads need proof of third-party certification. TikTok asks for NABP or LegitScript proof, Snap requires online pharmacies to be registered and, in the United States, NABP verified, Google allows US online pharmacies only with accreditation and Google certification, and Meta requires online pharmacies to be certified by LegitScript and authorized by Meta. X, Reddit, Yahoo and Nextdoor ask for NABP (or LegitScript) accreditation, LinkedIn and Microsoft require prior authorization or preapproval, and Amazon Ads accepts online pharmacies only in the US with NABP registration and not as display ads in its store.

   Source: TikTok Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals ad policy (United States, pharmacies); Snap Ads Category Requirements, Health (online pharmacy); Google Ads Healthcare and medicines policy (United States); Meta Advertising Standards, Drugs and pharmaceuticals; LinkedIn Advertising Policies; X Ads healthcare policy; Reddit Ads Healthcare Products and Services policy; Microsoft Advertising Healthcare and Pharmaceutical policy; Amazon Ads Healthcare products and services policy; Nextdoor Ads Policy; Yahoo Ad Policy, Pharmacies

   Safer wording: Get NABP, .Pharmacy or LegitScript certification and the platform's own approval before the ad runs, and name the licensed pharmacy.

   Meta Advertising Standards, Drugs and pharmaceuticals, Nextdoor Ads Policy, Yahoo Ad Policy, Pharmacies, Microsoft Advertising Healthcare and Pharmaceutical policy, Reddit Ads Healthcare Products and Services policy, Amazon Ads Healthcare products and services policy, Google Ads Healthcare and medicines policy, TikTok Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals ad policy, Snap Ads Category Requirements, Health, LinkedIn Advertising Policies, X Ads healthcare policy

9. CG-PLT-013 · Warns · Citation checked against stored text

   Pinterest does not allow claims regarding the prevention or cure of disease, and Google does not allow non-approved products marketed as safe or effective for preventing, curing or treating a particular disease. Meta bars claims to cure, heal or eliminate incurable diseases (diabetes, herpes, thyroid conditions, psoriasis, cancer, autism, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, HIV and others), even from health professionals. Reddit, Amazon, Outbrain, Nextdoor, Apple and Taboola bar implying that a product or supplement diagnoses, prevents or cures disease.

   Source: Pinterest Advertising Guidelines (healthcare products and services); Google Ads Healthcare and medicines policy (unapproved substances); Meta Advertising Standards, Unrealistic outcomes; Meta Advertising Standards, Health and wellness; Reddit Ads Healthcare Products and Services policy; Amazon Ads Claims and substantiation policy; Outbrain Advertising Guidelines; Nextdoor Ads Policy; Apple Advertising Services policies; Taboola Health Supplement Advertising Guidelines

   Safer wording: Say what the service does ("screening", "education", "treatment plans reviewed by a clinician") and leave out prevent, cure and reverse.

   Meta Advertising Standards, Unrealistic outcomes, Meta Advertising Standards, Health and wellness, Taboola Health Supplement Advertising Guidelines, Outbrain Advertising Guidelines, Nextdoor Ads Policy, Apple Advertising Services policies, Reddit Ads Healthcare Products and Services policy, Amazon Ads Claims and substantiation policy, Google Ads Healthcare and medicines policy, Pinterest Advertising Guidelines

10. CG-PLT-014 · Warns · Citation checked against stored text

    Pinterest bars targeting an audience on a sensitive health or medical condition, and targeting proxies for it. Google treats health as a sensitive interest category with restricted targeting. LinkedIn, X, Reddit and Spotify bar targeting on health data or conditions, and Microsoft bars targeting consumers on sensitive health information.

    Source: Pinterest Advertising Guidelines (don't target sensitive categories); Google Ads Restricted targeting in personalized advertising policy (sensitive interest categories, health); LinkedIn Advertising Policies; X Ads targeting of sensitive categories policy; Reddit Ads Targeting Guidelines; Spotify Advertising Policies; Microsoft Advertising Healthcare and Pharmaceutical policy

    Safer wording: Target by topic, placement or broad demographics, and write the ad for everyone who might see it.

    X Ads targeting of sensitive categories policy, Spotify Advertising Policies, Microsoft Advertising Healthcare and Pharmaceutical policy, Reddit Ads Targeting Guidelines, Google Ads Restricted targeting in personalized advertising policy, Pinterest Advertising Guidelines, LinkedIn Advertising Policies

11. CG-PLT-020 · Warns · Citation checked against stored text

    Telehealth and telemedicine ads are gated. Google allows telemedicine providers only with LegitScript certification plus Google certification, and Meta requires telehealth providers that promote prescription drugs to be LegitScript certified and authorized. LinkedIn allows telehealth only in the United States with prior authorization, X allows licensed providers only in the states where they are licensed and with prior authorization, Reddit asks for industry certifications and a sales representative, Microsoft preapproves telemedicine providers that sell prescription drugs, and Amazon Ads does not accept telemedicine as display ads in its store.

    Source: Google Ads Healthcare and medicines policy, additional sections; Meta Advertising Standards, Drugs and pharmaceuticals; LinkedIn Advertising Policies; X Ads healthcare policy; Reddit Ads Healthcare Products and Services policy; Microsoft Advertising Healthcare and Pharmaceutical policy; Amazon Ads Healthcare products and services policy; LegitScript Healthcare Merchant Certification

    Safer wording: Get LegitScript certification if you prescribe or sell prescription drugs, then ask each platform for its telehealth authorization before the ad runs, and name only the states where you are licensed.

    Meta Advertising Standards, Drugs and pharmaceuticals, LegitScript Healthcare Merchant Certification, Google Ads Healthcare and medicines policy, additional sections, Microsoft Advertising Healthcare and Pharmaceutical policy, Reddit Ads Healthcare Products and Services policy, Amazon Ads Healthcare products and services policy, Google Ads Healthcare and medicines policy, LinkedIn Advertising Policies, X Ads healthcare policy

12. CG-PLT-028 · Warns · Citation checked against stored text

    Addiction treatment ads are gated. Google and Meta require LegitScript certification (and Meta written permission, for the United States), Microsoft allows them only in the United States with LegitScript certification and no lead generation ads, Reddit requires industry certifications and licensed staff, Nextdoor requires LegitScript certification for the USA, and Amazon Ads does not accept addiction-related healthcare services in its store.

    Source: Google Ads Addiction services policy; Google Ads Healthcare and medicines policy, additional sections (United States, addiction services); Meta Advertising Standards, Drug and alcohol addiction treatment; Microsoft Advertising Healthcare and Pharmaceutical policy; Reddit Ads Healthcare Products and Services policy; Nextdoor Ads Policy; Amazon Ads Healthcare products and services policy; LegitScript Healthcare Merchant Certification

    Safer wording: Get LegitScript certification first, then apply to each platform. Do not run lead generation ads for addiction services.

    Meta Advertising Standards, Drug and alcohol addiction treatment, Nextdoor Ads Policy, LegitScript Healthcare Merchant Certification, Google Ads Healthcare and medicines policy, additional sections, Google Ads Addiction services policy, Microsoft Advertising Healthcare and Pharmaceutical policy, Reddit Ads Healthcare Products and Services policy, Amazon Ads Healthcare products and services policy, Google Ads Healthcare and medicines policy

13. CG-PLT-031 · Warns · Citation checked against stored text

    Meta's Business Tools Terms bar sharing Business Tool Data that includes or is based on health information, and say the names and criteria of events and conversions must not reflect or imply it. Google's customer data policies bar using conversions tied to health or medical information, such as purchases of medical services or prescription drugs, for enhanced conversions or store sales uploads. Tracking tags on clinic sites can also be a HIPAA problem.

    Source: Meta Business Tools Terms (Business Tool Data); Google Ads Customer data policies

    Safer wording: Do not send events whose name or data reveals a condition, a prescription or a patient status. Measure at the level of the campaign, with no health detail.

    Meta Business Tools Terms, Google Ads Customer data policies · Needs counsel review