Virgin Media Removes Harmful Ad After Epilepsy Advocates Speak Out

Last week, Twitter removed hazardous ads after a charity in the U.K. pointed out how they could trigger seizures. On Monday, Virgin Media faced the same accusation after the company posted a flashing video on Twitter for its #AllTheFootball campaign.

Intense strobe lights, certain visual patterns and continuing rapid flashes of different colors are just a few examples of what can trigger a seizure for people with photosensitive epilepsy, according to The Epilepsy Foundation. People on Twitter were quick to alert Virgin Media to this, urging the company to take the ad down.

Other relevant stories:
• What to Do When Someone Has a Seizure
• Can a Woman with Epilepsy Have a Baby
• Medications for Epilepsy 

Just got a promoted rapid-flashing ad from @virginmedia in my TL. Again, this is bad for epileptic ppl. Can we get @twitter to do something?

— Elainovision Tribute Act (@scattermoon) July 13, 2015

https://twitter.com/MyID_Research/status/620598494441541632

Epilepsy Action, the same charity that called out Twitter’s ads, actually tested the Virgin Media ad online to confirm it could cause harm to people with photosensitive epilepsy.

.@ASA_UK We’ve tested @virginmedia‘s #AllTheFootball twitter ad online, and it can cause harm to people with photosensitive epilepsy

— Epilepsy Action (@epilepsyaction) July 13, 2015

Soon after, Virgin Media responded to Epilepsy Action and removed the ad.

@epilepsyaction Thanks for flagging this, sorry about the video. We’ve taken the decision to remove the ad. Thanks again. ^MK

— Virgin Media (@virginmedia) July 13, 2015