Affiliate
A referral partner that may receive commission under a commercial arrangement.
Concept and usage
A referral partner that may receive commission under a commercial arrangement.[1]
In context
An affiliate typically refers readers to a third-party service through content, advertising or links and may be paid for clicks or later transactions. That commercial relationship belongs in a disclosure process separate from fact-checking, editorial judgment and platform-eligibility data.[1]
Common confusion
An affiliate is not a regulator, operator or independent testing body. Calling an article independent does not erase a financial connection attached to a referral link. Readers need a clear disclosure close enough to understand the relationship.[1]
Example
If a publisher may earn a commission when a reader follows a platform link, the relationship should be disclosed nearby in plain language. FTC guidance applies within a U.S. context; requirements elsewhere need separate review.[1]
Keep exploring
Glossary
Sources and scope
- The FTC’s Endorsement Guides: What People Are AskingU.S. Federal Trade CommissionChecked:
U.S. FTC guidance on endorsements and material connections; legal applicability varies by location.