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Residents of South London are facing the bombardment of all-weather advertising from illuminated screens — similar to what is in a black mirror — because multinational advertising companies took advantage of short-funded local councils during the pandemic.

Although residents are upset by the coronavirus crisis, advertising agencies have been quietly pouring into troubled South London boroughs—including Lambeth, Southwark, Wandsworth, Lewisham, and Greenwich— -Plan the application to install intrusive digital advertising screens.

In an application for a plan to install only 24 new screens, the US-based Clear Channel company promoted the fact that broadcasting all-weather advertisements to local residents would help Lambeth City Council-lacking central government funding-to maintain basic Serve.

The advertising company proposed to install nearly 90 illuminated screens on billboards, in the middle of sidewalks and bus stops in South London. Each individual advertising screen will be illuminated almost 24/7 and will be able to bombard locals with more than 10,000 marketing messages every day.

Recent studies have warned of the harms of such screens, given their impact on mental health and unhealthy lifestyle choices-especially for children, it is harder for the public to ignore these hazards. Local residents oppose the use of screens to distract drivers, use large amounts of electricity, excessive light pollution, and change local convenience facilities.

Christopher Scott, a local resident and Adblock Lambeth activist, said:

"Since the pandemic began, the poorer South London boroughs have been overwhelmed by the installation of new illuminated advertising screens in public places-these screens will bombard locals with tens of thousands of advertising messages every day.

"Although residents have been focusing on staying away from the coronavirus, advertising agencies have been quietly ensuring that South Londoners get rid of the blockade and carry out 24/7 illuminated advertising on their streets.

"Multinational advertising companies even promote the fact that all-weather advertising to taxpayers in South London is a way for poorer local councils to serve these taxpayers. This is really something in "Black Mirror."

"South Londoners have never asked for more advertisements in their public places. Tourists may visit Piccadilly Circus advertisements, but no one wants to live opposite them.

Although residents have noticed the emergence of new digital screens during the lockdown, Adblock activists in London have counted at least 85 new illuminated advertising screens in planning applications submitted in South London since the beginning of the pandemic, including:

Increasing the number of digital advertising screens in our city means that not only can people not stop watching ads, they can't avoid being affected by them. Research shows that we don’t even have to pay attention to advertising to be affected by it.

“Advertising is driving the climate crisis. It causes obesity, fuels addiction to gambling and promotes fast fashion. It’s clear that another SUV on our roads, more junk food in our stomachs, or another bet won’t make Londoners worse. Happy and healthier," Scott added.

Adblock activists are currently opposing Clear Channel’s proposal to install 24 new screens in Lambeth and are inviting people to sign a petition here and submit an application to the committee by December 17.

Adblock Lambeth recently successfully opposed a plan to install a large digital billboard on Wandsworth Road. The billboard will be equipped with an energy-intensive illuminated screen that can broadcast new marketing messages every five seconds.

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