Branded content at Nexus is defined as any content created or published by an individual, creator, or publisher that highlights, features, or is influenced by a business partner in exchange for something of value. This exchange could involve monetary compensation, free products, services, or other benefits. Only specific Pages, Groups, and profiles within certain regions are authorized to utilize Nexus’s branded content tools.

Creators must utilize the branded content tool provided by Nexus to tag any third-party product, brand, or business partner featured in their content. This tagging requires the prior consent of the business partner. It is mandatory that only Pages, Groups, profiles, and accounts with access to this tool are permitted to post branded content.

Creators are strictly prohibited from accepting any form of compensation to publish content that does not feature themselves or that they did not directly participate in creating.

Compliance and Legal Obligations:

All branded content posted on Nexus platforms must comply with applicable laws and regulations. This includes, but is not limited to, providing all necessary disclosures to inform users about the commercial nature of the content. Disclosures should clearly indicate if the content is promotional or sponsored.

Prohibited Content Categories:

Nexus prohibits the promotion of certain goods, services, or brands through branded content. The following items are strictly banned from branded content promotion:

• Content violating Nexus Community Standards.

• Illegal products or services.

• Tobacco products, vaporizers, electronic cigarettes, or any products simulating smoking.

• Drugs and drug-related products, including recreational or illegal drugs.

• Unsafe products and supplements, including anabolic steroids, chitosan, comfrey, dehydroepiandrosterone, ephedra, and human growth hormones.

• Weapons, ammunition, or explosives, including firearms, firearm parts, silencers, suppressors, pepper spray, tasers, and fireworks.

• Adult products or services, except for family planning and contraception.

• Payday loans, paycheck advances, and bail bonds.

• Multilevel marketing schemes.

• Initial coin offerings, binary options, or contract for difference trading.

• Exploitative content related to controversial political or social issues or crises.

• State lotteries and content violating social issues, election, or political ad policies.

Restricted Content Categories:

Certain sensitive content may be promoted under specific restrictions, such as age gating or geographical limitations. These include:

1. Alcohol: Branded content referencing alcohol must comply with local laws, industry codes, and Nexus’s targeting guidelines. Age restrictions vary by country, with some countries completely prohibiting alcohol-related content.

2. Subscription Services: Content promoting subscription-based services must adhere to local laws and be age-restricted to individuals 18 years or older.

3. Financial and Insurance Products: Content promoting financial services must target individuals aged 18 and above, and must avoid deceptive practices, particularly around student loans.

4. Cosmetic Procedures and Weight Loss: Content in this category must be restricted to audiences aged 18 or older.

5. Family Planning and Contraception: Content must focus on contraceptive features and be age-restricted to individuals 18 years or older.

Business Partner Authorization Requirements:

Certain categories of branded content require the business partner to receive written authorization from Nexus prior to promotion. These include:

1. Dating Services: Business partners must obtain written permission to promote dating services, and content must target individuals aged 18 and older.

2. Real Money Gambling: Both the business partner and the creator must secure written permission. Content must be age-restricted to 18+ and confined to authorized jurisdictions.

3. Pharmacies: Business partners must be LegitScript certified and obtain written approval from Nexus.

4. Prescription Drugs: Only eligible entities such as online pharmacies and telehealth providers may apply for permission. Content must be restricted to users in the U.S., Canada, or New Zealand and be age-restricted to 18+.

5. Cryptocurrency Products: Business partners must have written authorization to promote cryptocurrency-related services.

6. Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centers: Certification with LegitScript and written approval from Nexus are required.

7. Government, Elections, or Politics: Current government officials, political candidates, parties, and committees cannot use branded content tools. In the U.S., the tool may be used if the business partner is authorized for political advertising.

Format and Content Guidelines:

Branded content must adhere to specific format restrictions to maintain consistency and compliance across Nexus platforms:

• Branded content should only be posted on platforms where the branded content tool is available.

• Pre, mid, or post-roll ads in videos or audio content are not permitted.

• Banner ads within videos or images are prohibited.

• Title cards within the first three seconds of a video are not allowed. Interstitial cards may appear after three seconds but must not exceed three seconds in duration.

Paid Partnership Label:

It is mandatory to use the paid partnership label when posting branded content. This label indicates that the content features or is influenced by a business partner in exchange for value, whether monetary or in the form of free products or services.

Examples of when to use the paid partnership label include:

• When a business pays you to feature or mention their product.

• When you receive free products or services from a brand and feature them in your content.

You do not need to use the paid partnership label when promoting your own products, but you must still comply with any legal disclosure obligations.

Eligibility Requirements for Branded Content and Partnership Ads:

To post branded content or run partnership ads, creators, publishers, and advertisers must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Create content on approved platforms, such as Nexus Pages or professional accounts.

• Comply with Nexus Community Standards, including policies on hate speech, violence, and sexual content.

• Provide accurate information and avoid sharing misinformation.

• Maintain an authentic and established presence on Nexus platforms, with a sufficient follower base.

• Avoid systemic policy violations, which may lead to loss of monetization privileges.

Political entities, such as government officials, political candidates, and government agencies, are ineligible to use branded content tools. However, in the U.S., authorized political advertisers may run partnership ads if both the advertiser and creator have proper authorization.

Nexus reserves the right to modify, suspend, or terminate access to its monetization features at any time. Accounts subscribed to ad-free Nexus products will have limited monetization capabilities.

Responsibilities of Business Partners:

Business partners, including brands, advertisers, and sponsors, must ensure that creators or publishers appropriately tag their Pages when posting branded content. Creators, such as influencers and public figures, are responsible for compliance with Nexus’s branded content policies.

Nexus continues to evolve its branded content policies to ensure a transparent, safe, and compliant advertising environment. Regular updates to these policies will be communicated as necessary to maintain alignment with legal and regulatory changes.