To maintain high standards of quality and safety for advertising campaigns, as well as to ensure compliance with the requirements of premium publishers and legislation, our compliance check use a flagging system. These restrictions automatically block traffic to creatives that violate established rules. This article details two key flags that most commonly affect available traffic volume: 2.19 (Traffic is limited) and 2.3 (Fake Elements). Understanding the reasons for their application will help in planning creatives more effectively and avoiding restrictions.
Flag 2.19 (Traffic is limited)
What is Flag 2.19?
Flag 2.19 (Traffic is limited) is a compliance restriction that blocks your creative from receiving traffic on a wide range of websites. These include major premium publishers and many others that follow strict industry standards for advertising quality and safety. This flag is used only when a creative does not meet the general requirements shared across multiple publishers.
How does Flag 2.19 affect my campaign?
If your creative receives Flag 2.19:
- It will not run on a wide list of websites.
What triggers Flag 2.19?
This flag is applied in cases of general non-compliance with premium sites requirements. It’s not tied to a single creative element but to the overall suitability of the ad for premium publishers.
It can also be triggered when your landing page is flagged by trusted security tools, including:
- VirusTotal
- Malwarebytes
- Norton
- Avast
- McAfee
- Microsoft Defender
- Or similar antivirus browser extensions
- Google search ads are also not allowed
Flag 2.3 (Fake Elements)
What is Flag 2.3?
Flag 2.3 (Fake Elements) is a compliance restriction applied to creatives that intentionally mislead users by imitating real interface elements. This flag significantly limits traffic.
Why is this flag applied?
Creatives with fake elements are designed to make users believe they are interacting with something other than an ad.
They may include:
- Fake buttons
- Fake notifications
- Fake system messages
- Fake scrollbars
- Fake video controls (Play, Pause, Close, etc.)
- Or any UI element that pretends to have a function it doesn’t actually perform
Google classifies this type of design as “misleading ad design,” which is prohibited by its policies.
How does Flag 2.3 affect my campaign?
If your creative receives Flag 2.3:
- It will lose access to significant traffic sources.
- Premium publishers may block it entirely.
- The ad will only run in limited placements where misleading UI elements are not restricted.
What triggers Flag 2.3?
Ask yourself: Is the creative trying to look like something it is not?
The flag is applied when:
- A static banner pretends to be a video player (fake Play/Pause buttons).
- A creative shows options like “Close,” “Cancel,” or similar actions that do not actually function.
- The design imitates system alerts or app notifications to increase clicks.
- The user may reasonably assume they are interacting with an actual interface instead of an advertisement.
What does not trigger Flag 2.3?
Normal calls to action are allowed.
For example:
- “Click Here”
- “Go to Website”
- “Learn More”
- A visually highlighted CTA button
These are not considered fake elements because clicking them actually leads to the landing page, as expected.
What about video creatives?
Video creatives are treated differently:
- Most videos are okay, even if they show UI elements, because users understand how video content works.
- UI elements shown as part of a legitimate product demonstration (e.g., a screencast of an antivirus program) do not trigger the flag.
The flag is applied when videos intentionally mislead users - examples include:
- Fake “Skip” buttons
- Fake system notifications
- Mouse cursor animations leading to deceptive clicks
- Static videos with fake interface elements
If the purpose of the video is to confuse the user or simulate real UI interactions, Flag 2.3 will be applied.
Flags 2.19 and 2.3 are critical automated controls within our compliance system designed to protect campaign quality and publisher relationships. Flag 2.19 addresses broad suitability and security issues, particularly with landing pages. Flag 2.3 targets the fundamental principle of user transparency by prohibiting misleading design.
The most effective strategy to avoid these restrictions is proactive compliance: thoroughly check landing pages with security tools before launch and design creatives with clear, honest intent.
Always prioritize clear communication with the user over deceptive engagement tactics. By understanding and adhering to these guidelines, you can ensure broader traffic access and sustainable campaign performance.
support@trafficstars.com