User-Generated Content (UGC)

User-generated content, or UGC, is material created by customers, followers, or other people rather than the business itself. Examples include a homeowner's photo of a finished garden, a tagged social post, or a video discussing a service experience. Some UGC may contain a testimonial, but not every customer-created post is an endorsement. A business should obtain appropriate permission before reposting content and avoid implying that an unpaid comment was independently verified. If creators are compensated or otherwise connected to the business, relevant disclosure rules may apply. Authentic customer content can provide useful context, but it should not be edited or presented in ways that misrepresent what actually happened.