StatusMelaThese rules apply to every ad on StatusMela — sponsored posts in the feed, ads between comments, Explore banners and sponsored contests or hashtag challenges — and to the brands and agencies who buy them from StatusMela. They sit alongside our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines.
StatusMela's audience is families and friends sharing in 10 Indian languages. We only run ads we would be happy to show them.
Ads we don't accept#
- Betting and gambling — betting, fantasy sports with cash prizes, online casinos, satta/matka, lotteries and "colour prediction" games.
- Adult or sexual content — nudity, sexual products or services, dating sites built around hook-ups, and suggestive images.
- Fake or illegal loans — instant-loan apps that are not run by or for an RBI-registered bank or NBFC, loans with hidden fees, and any "loan in 5 minutes, no documents" promise.
- Get-rich-quick schemes — crypto trading tips, "double your money" offers, unregistered investment advice, and paid trading groups.
- Misleading health claims — miracle cures, guaranteed weight loss, "permanent" cures for diabetes or other illnesses, and anything that breaks the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act.
- Weapons and dangerous goods — guns, ammunition, explosives and fireworks sold without a licence.
- Tobacco and alcohol — cigarettes, gutkha, vapes and alcohol, including surrogate ads.
- Political ads — ads for political parties, candidates or campaigns, unless we have announced otherwise in writing.
- MLM and pyramid schemes — "join and earn" plans that pay for recruiting people.
- Anything illegal in India, hateful, or that copies someone else's brand, trademark or content.
We may add to this list at any time.
What every ad must do#
- Tell the truth. Prices, offers, discounts and results must be real and available. Keep proof for any claim.
- Match the landing page. The link must go to the product or offer the ad shows, work on a phone, and not download an app without asking.
- Be clearly an ad. We label every ad "Sponsored" (प्रायोजित). Don't hide it or make an ad look like a news report or a post by a real person.
- Follow the law and the ASCI Code for advertising in India, including the rules for influencer and health ads.
- Respect people's privacy. Don't ask for OTPs, passwords or bank details, and collect personal data only with clear consent.
- Use your own material. You must own or have permission for every logo, photo, song and video in the ad.
Review and our right to refuse#
We review every ad and contest before it goes live, usually within one working day. We may refuse, pause or remove any ad at any time — before or during a campaign — if we believe it breaks these rules, the law, or could harm our users. If we remove an ad for breaking these rules, the unused part of the campaign is not refunded.
Payment and invoices#
Rates are agreed before a campaign starts. We send an invoice for every campaign. Campaigns start once payment is received, unless we agree otherwise in writing.
How we count results#
Every advertiser gets a private campaign report link with daily numbers, which can be downloaded as PDF or Excel (CSV).
- Impressions — times your ad was on screen for at least a second (the same person within 5 minutes counts once).
- Reach — different people who saw it on a day, added up over the days.
- Clicks — taps on your button, link, logo or banner.
- Contest numbers — contest page views, entries, and the views, likes and shares of entry posts.
Numbers come from our own systems and are final for billing. Days are counted in India time.
Contact#
Questions about an ad, or want to report one? Write to [email protected]. Want to advertise? See Advertise with us.