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# FDA Researching Ad Superimposed Text
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/fda-researching-ad-superimposed-text/
- Published: 2016-03-08T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-15T02:41:51.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: FDA Policy/General, #legacy-id-D5135008

> FDA says it is proposing to research the use of superimposed text in direct-to-consumer DTC) drug ads. A *Federal Register* [notice](https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2016-05233.pdf?platform=hootsuite&ref=fdaweb.com) says that the proposed study is intended to extend previous research on the effects of such text in general print and TV advertising to today’s modern DTC pharmaceutical promotion.  
>  
> “Although earlier research on the effects of supers in other consumer settings suggests that altering text size can influence consumer comprehension of information,” the notice says, “it is unclear if these findings extend to DTC promotion of prescription drugs and are applicable over 20 years later when viewing promotional materials using today’s modern technologies (e.g., tablets). Moreover, other factors such as text/background contrast may also influence both the understanding of the superimposed information and the effects of text size.”  
>  
> Questions to be answered through the research are:  
> . whether the size of the superimposed text, the contrast behind the superimposed text, and/or the device type influence the noticeability, recall, and perceived importance of the super information; whether the size of the superimposed text, the contrast behind the superimposed text, and/or the device type influence the recall of and attitudes toward the promoted drug; and whether there are any interaction effects among any combination of independent variables.