On March 11, 2025, dely, known for its popular cooking recipe site Kurashiru, addressed concerns raised on social media about inappropriate sexual content ads appearing on its platform. The announcement came after users began reporting these ads on X starting March 9.
The matter gained urgency when, following initial complaints, another cooking website operated by Orange Page net echoed similar reports of sexual content advertisements on its pages. This prompted Orange Page to issue a statement on March 10, confirming the issue and apologizing to their users, stating they had taken steps to halt the distribution of such inappropriate ads.
Upon facing these public criticisms, dely responded quickly. They confirmed to ITmedia NEWS, "We are taking prompt action to halt the publication of these identified advertisements. We strive to monitor our service to prevent inappropriate ads from appearing, but occasionally due to the nature of advertising networks, such things occur."
Dely has set up systems on its official site and app allowing users to report any inappropriate ads they come across. They emphasized their commitment to provide a safe experience for their users.
Following the revelations on social media, dely confirmed it was investigating the reported ads and clarified, "We verified the content of the posts made by users on X and identified the concerning ads. We have requested the relevant advertising networks to suspend the problematic ads, along with demanding thorough investigations and the implementation of measures to prevent reoccurrences of this issue."
The immediate measures taken by both dely and Orange Page highlight the sensitive nature of content regulation within the digital advertising space, where user trust and engagement are imperative. The quick responses from both companies indicate their awareness of user sentiments and the importance of maintaining brand reputation.
Meanwhile, users on X have been vocal about their experiences, with many expressing disappointment over the ad content shared on platforms frequented for wholesome cooking and recipe sharing. Reaction posts on social media have ranged from outrage to offers of suggestions on how the companies might improve their ad vetting processes.
With the rise of digital media, the dining and cooking industry has strived to create family-friendly spaces online, which makes incidents like this particularly jarring. Good advertising practices are not just about revenue; they play significantly on the perception and trust users place on such platforms.
Through this incident, it becomes evident how sensitive the balance is between providing user-generated content and ensuring the channel remains free from inappropriate intrusions. This incident serves as a cautionary tale for other digital platforms to re-examine their advertising policies and monitoring systems.
Social media has emerged as both a platform for customer engagement and scrutiny, creating new challenges and opportunities for digital services like Kurashiru. With the advent of public complaints, it remains to be seen how effective dely’s remedial measures will be, and whether the actions now being taken will restore trust among users.
Such occurrences could lead to broader consequences for online recipe-sharing communities, as users demand higher standards of content. It reinforces the relevance of thorough advertising scrutiny and customer feedback mechanisms. This incident will likely prompt other companies within similar industries to re-evaluate their advertising practices and user feedback processes to stave off similar challenges.