| Welcome to The Conscious Advertising Network (CAN) newsletter for Feburary 2026. Here's what we're covering in this month's newsletter: -
The upcoming release of Molly Vs THE MACHINES, in cinemas this weekend -
A look at how brands can best show up for the LGBT+ community, including during upcoming Trans+ History Week -
Insightful articles to read on if the junk food advertising ban will work, a new sustainability model being trialled, and lessons we can learn from inclusive TV ads -
A look at the recent anonymous letter from Inside Track highlighting concerns about where the advertising industry stands today -
A new campaign from Age Without Limits exploring continued issues around ageism -
Marketing Procurement iQ Conference coming up in March, and keep an eye out for the Purpose Awards 2026, which has CAN representation on the judging panel If you've got news related to CAN and our Guiding Principles, please do get in touch with us at hello@consciousadnetwork.org. #TogetherWeCAN | | | Molly Vs THE MACHINES
 Telling the story of Ian Russell and his fight for online safety, Molly Vs THE MACHINES is a new Channel 4 film highlighting what happened to Molly Rose Russell in the lead-up to her tragic death. The film presents the link between advertising, harmful content and recommendation algorithms as they continue to shape, influence and infiltrate our lives. Research from the Molly Rose Foundation found that 1 in 10 pieces of self-harm and suicide content was still monetised across TikTok and Instagram Reels, 8 years after Molly's death.
Platform attempts at self-regulation are not working, and now is the time for advertisers to take the lead in demanding transparency on ad placements, so that we can be part of fixing the problem.
Made in close collaboration with Molly's family and friends, the film situates Molly's story within the wider context of technological and algorithmic overreach.
Produced by Marc Silver together with Kat Mansoor for Snowstorm Productions and Natalie Humphreys for Storyboard Studios, the film was co-written by Harvard professor Shoshana Zuboff (author of The Age of Surveillance Capitalism: The Fight for a Human Future at the New Frontier of Power). The documentary examines how Molly's life and death were intertwined with algorithms born and generated in the depths of Silicon Valley. It interrogates one of the defining issues of our time: how digital systems designed for profit have come to shape emotional life and behavior.
The documentary is set to launch as part of the Glasgow Film Festival's premiere slate on Sunday 1st March 2026, releasing simultaneously in 30+ cinemas across the country as part of a world exclusive one night only theatrical event - you can see a full list and links to tickets here. The film will also be shown on Channel 4 on March 5th.
Watching this film will give you a clear, urgent picture of how algorithmic design can endanger young lives, and why immediate, coordinated action from advertisers is essential. Advertisers hold real power to ask platforms to prioritise child safety by design: the time is now. | | | | What We Are Reading
'Brands will simply have to work harder for attention': How a social media crackdown could impact marketers" - Performance Marketing World | | | CAN co-founder Harriet Kingaby's voice stands out in this timely piece on the UK government's upcoming social-media safeguards. She is quoted in the article, saying:
"We welcome this move by Kier Starmer to tackle the addictive nature of social media platforms. Sadly, we know the consequences of this can be deadly. Only by tackling the business model of these platforms and the toxic link between 'topic agnostic' recommendation algorithms, harmful content and advertising, will reforms get to the very heart of the problem."
At CAN, we believe that responsible advertising can support children's safeguarding online while still delivering results. Some key takeaways from this article include:
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Algorithmic feeds are not a product, they're a system. Reducing compulsive design elements will push brands toward broader targeting and first‑party data. -
Brand safety evolves into brand suitability. Elevating positive mental‑health content isn't optional. It's becoming a regulatory expectation. -
Creative rigour will matter most. With less automatic attention, compelling storytelling and purpose‑driven messaging will be the new competitive edge. As these new policies and regulations unfold, Harriet's insight reminds us that ethical stewardship can, and must, co-exist in the next chapter of advertising. | | | What We Are Reading
Pride sponsorship falls, how can brands show up for the LGBT+ community? - The Drum | | | Pride festivals across the UK and US are losing corporate sponsors at an unprecedented rate. In the UK, around 75% of pride events reported reduced sponsorship last year, with events like Manchester Pride even filing for bankruptcy. Smaller festivals in the US have reported losing between 70 and 90% of their funding in 2025. This article from The Drum outlines this issue, and some reasons that it is extremely important for advertisers: -
Consumer expectations are shifting: a Pew study finds 68% of LGBTQ+ adults view brand support as self-serving, and 80% would not support a brand that withdraws sponsorship. -
Performative allyship hurts: brands that only support pride campaigns with logos risk backlash and see little sales increase. -
Authentic, internal commitment pays off: Executives at organisations like Outvertising and Marks & Spencer's stress that real change starts with internal policies and direct financial support, not just seasonal ads. The full article outlines how brands can avoid performative allyship and authentically support LGBTQ+ communities. Some recommendations include making Pride a year-round priority, allocating real dollars to community initiatives (not just logos), and amplifying queer voices inside your brand.
CAN's Guiding Principles, CAN's Inclusion Guide, the Outvertising Advocacy Playbook, and the Queer AF Trans+ History Workbook (spotlighted below) all set out concrete ways for brands to ensure they are meaningfully supporting LGBTQ+ voices and avoid pinkwashing. | | New Resource The Trans+ History Workbook | | | Trans+ History Week 2026 will take place between the 4th - 10th May this year. The 2026 workbook, produced by Trans+ History Week in partnership with QueerAF, is a freely available toolkit that can help you to create respectful, historically grounded content for the week. Here's what you will find inside the workbook: -
Four core themes to frame the week's storytelling: "We've always been here," "we can't be erased," "we're stronger together," and "we're more than Trans+." To use the workbook responsibly, you must read the research first and ensure your messages are rooted in honest values. When you do use the material, ensure you collaborate with trans-identified creators and credit the workbook in your content. | | | What We Are Reading
Britain Just Banned Junk Food Ads Before 9 PM. But Will It Actually Work? - ZME Science | | | In January 2026, the UK rolled out a nation-wide ban on television advertising for foods high in fat, salt, or sugar (HFSS) before 9pm, while outlawing online HFSS ads at any hour. This is in an attempt to improve the health of children and reduce their exposure to unhealthy foods - this ZME article dives deep into the new ban and asks whether the new rules will truly work.
The policy aims to remove a major source of persuasion when children are most likely to be watching TV, and the government suggests that it could prevent thousands of childhood obesity cases.
But there are notable drawbacks. Crucially, the exemption for outdoor advertising means that billboards, bus shelters, and other street-level media remain open channels for exposure to HFSS. Though not covered in the article, HFSS foods in outdoor advertising have historically been linked to higher concentration in lower socio-economic communities, meaning this ban does little to curb the disproportionate exposure that drives childhood obesity in those communities. | | New Age Without Limits Campaign
 The Age Without Limits campaign returns for its third year, which launched nationwide on Wednesday 11th February 2026 through to late May. Building on the success of the first two years, which have significantly increased awareness and understanding of ageism, this year's campaign aims to deepen people's connection to the issue and show that everyone has a role to play in challenging it.
This campaign explores ageist phrases and assumptions through the perspective of young children, highlighting how absurd they can sound when viewed through an innocent lens.
While the adverts appear light-hearted at first, they ultimately reveal the serious consequences of ageism that affect us all, limiting opportunities in work, influencing health outcomes and shaping who is valued in society.
The campaign will run nationwide across digital, outdoor and audio channels, supported by PR, social media and ongoing engagement with employers, policymakers and the creative industries to drive change.
Find out more here | | | | What We Are Reading
Havas Media Network UK clients enrolled in sustainability model. A step forward or a dead end? - The Media Leader Article | | | This Media Leader article, featuring CAN co-founder Jake Dubbins, examines Havas Media Network UK's new opt-out sustainability model that automatically enrols clients in sustainable media communications. The initiative aims to make sustainability the operational standard rather than an optional add-on, with no price premium and a framework built on measurement, reduction, optimisation, and creation.
However, Jake raises important concerns about how "sustainability" is being defined. Focusing only on carbon efficiency risks ignoring content that harms climate progress, and as AI advertising grows, serious questions arise about measuring platform emissions when Google's emissions are up 51% since 2019. | | | What We Are Reading
Representation matters: lessons from inclusive TV ads - Thinkbox | | | Thinkbox asked creative leaders share their top inclusive TV ad picks from the last year. TV advertising can have a massive social impact, and "positive and authentic representation of diverse communities in advertising can challenge stereotypes and help remove prejudice by driving familiarity and acceptance."
Hear from Laura Jordan Bambach (Founder & CCO, Unchartered), Tash Beecher (Creative Director, Syneos Health; Creative Co-Director, Outvertising), Matt Davis (ECD, Red Brick Road), Sarina Da Costa Gomez (Creative Director, T&Pm), and Asad Shaykh (Head of Strategy, GREY London and Pride in London) on their top inclusion TV ads. | | | What We Are Reading
Whistleblowers Warn That Ad Industry Is Fueling Online Hatred and Climate Crisis – WhoWhatWhy | | | Last month, an anonymous group of senior advertising executives who hold or until recently have held senior roles across the biggest media, creative and adtech companies as well as the major holding companies have released a document through Inside Track outlining their concerns about 'a vacuum of responsible leadership' at a 'critical moment' for the industry.
They raised worries over the independence of UK advertising, which they suggest is causing momentum on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, hate speech and climate change being reversed.
This article from WhoWhatWhy explores the content of the document further, and Harriet Kingaby, CAN Co-Founder, is quoted in the piece stating that the memo is "a warning shot to both the C-Suite and investors in the advertising industry as well as the brands that use them."
"People [in the industry] are not happy and they will not roll over on the issues that matter to them," Harriet shared. | | | Upcoming Event
Marketing Procurement iQ Conference (Europe) | | | The Marketing Procurement iQ Conference is back for 2026, taking place March 24th & 25th. Building on the success of the last two years, the conference is the meeting place for Marketing Procurement professionals, agencies, partners and industry experts.
Expect two days filled with the chance to discuss, debate and share insights on the most pressing challenges and emerging opportunities across the complex marketing eco-system. Enjoy unparalleled networking in the iconic surroundings of the Oval Cricket Ground, London. | | | Upcoming Event
Purpose Awards 2026 | | | CAN's Head of Membership & Engagement, Nafissa Norris, will be a judge at this years' Purpose Awards. The Purpose Awards, supported by PRWeek, Campaign, and Third Sector, aren't just about creative excellence; they're about celebrating the real-world impact advertising campaigns are making across the EMEA region.
Keep an eye out for the shortlist, which will be announced in April, and the awards ceremony, taking place in June. | | | Watch out for more news on all things CAN related via LinkedIn. For any other questions or concerns, or if you would like to know more about joining, please feel free to contact us at hello@consciousadnetwork.org.
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Thank you for your ongoing support, The Conscious Advertising Network | | | | |
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