Twitter Pulls Vine Ad After Criticism From an Epilepsy Charity

Twitter pulled a brightly flashing Vine ad from its website Friday after receiving complaints from an epilepsy charity.

Epilepsy Action said @TwitterUK’s new #DiscoverMusic campaign — which is designed to promote new artists and loops a six second clip of bright, flashing colors — was dangerous, as it could potentially produce seizures in people who have photo-sensitive epilepsy.

With 65 million people diagnosed worldwide, and Twitter’s extensive online presence, the ad represented a potentially serious problem. And “flashing bright lights or patterns” is a commonly reported trigger, according to the charity.

“Marketing communications should not include visual effects or techniques that are likely to adversely affect members of the public with photosensitive epilepsy,” Advertising Standards Authority told the BBC.

The ad ran for a full 18 hours before it was pulled down.

Rachel Bremer, international communications director at Twitter, responded to Epilepsy Action’s tweets:

Epilepsy Action later tweeted: