$37B Sponsored Content Spend, $53K FTC Risk in 2026
US brands spent an estimated $37 billion on creator and sponsored content advertising in 2025, up 26% year over year, per IAB's November 2025 Creator Economy Ad Spend and Strategy Report. Here is what that spend collides with: a $53,088 maximum FTC penalty per undisclosed post and a consumer base that says non-disclosure costs trust.