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Reply With QuoteThere was an article about US bloggers in the timesOriginally Posted by Mogga
http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/l...cle6732209.ece
America's memo to bloggers: don't lie, or we'll fine you | Technology | guardian.co.uk
the FCC has put forward a new series of guidelines designed to encourage fair and transparent product reviews online - including an attempt to regulate "payola" on websites and blogs. The possible consequence of breaking those rules? A fine of up to $11,000 (more than £6,800 in real money).
Payola schemes - where web users are offered money or gifts to write about certain services or products - have increased in recent years, as marketers realise that there's a lot of hay to be made by using freebies and cash incentives to encourage bloggers, web users and forum contributors to produce reviews or testimonials. At its worst, it is a form of astroturfing, the pernicious practice of trying to trick people into thinking that has widespread support from ordinary members of the public.
There was an article about US bloggers in the times
http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/l...cle6732209.ece
Actually, Trading Standards here in the UK brought in similar regulations last year. Not that it seems to be being policed at the moment, which is just as well thinking of many Online Bingo Blogs out there being run by 'fake personas' with glamorous names. You know who you are...
Interesting that TV company's are now being allowed to use product placement though?Actually, Trading Standards here in the UK brought in similar regulations last year. Not that it seems to be being policed at the moment, which is just as well thinking of many Online Bingo Blogs out there being run by 'fake personas' with glamorous names. You know who you are...
Touch of double standards maybe?
Anyway, if trading standards are policing it then it makes no odds really?
Yeah, true. What about that merekat geezer as well - I've heard it's not a real merekat after all - just a ploy to flog car insurance?
The difference is, the Meerkat isn't telling you to try X and X services as its tried them and uses them. That's where a lot of the online stuff crosses the line.
IE: Hi! I'm Xanadu Twinkletits and regularly play at Xbingo.com. Come and join me - click here to get £20 free!
Which is something I see lots of people doing...
The Iceland woman (kerry whatever?) springs to mind.
Nope, she's a real person. The UK legislation I'm on about is aimed at people who set up fake blogs / personas online. If it was an impersonator of Kerry Kackhead, pretending to be her then it would be an issue, possibly.
There was a comment on another thread that AM was 99% trickery, which understandably produced strong disagreement.
However, when it comes to fake reviews on blogs imo that poster was right and to some extent fake posts on blogs as well. Unfortunately you're then into the "how long is a piece of string" areas, which a large number of folks treat as grey when they actually fall into clear cut right and wrong.
Its just that rampant capitalism seems to have affected everyone's ability to judge how far is reasonable in trying to deceive other people into making a buying decision.
Hopefully they'll go for the big fish not the tiddlers, although of course the tiddlers don't have the legal resources of the larger companies. So business much as usual I imagine: corporates get away with all sorts, small businesses get harrassed.
PS.
Whatever happened to the law that said a printed advertorial had to have a big notice on it saying "Advertisement" ?. Our local rag is full of them and no sign of any warnings. Perhaps because they make money for the publishers - surely not !
It's not just local papers either - although advertising in some of the nationals is a touch more subtle. After all, a picture of Paris Hilton at a party may be considered celebrity gossip but she is being paid to be there wearing a certain outfit and it's surprising how many people don't know this?
I've noticed this on the increase. a) I get lots of unsolicited offers from people wanting a post about their product on my site. I now have a standard response - no paid for articles or links, but if I find your site/product of interest to my readers I will write about naturally. And b) Now that I run a few affiliate sites it becomes very obvious when people are making recommendations based on what they get out of it. "Just click through my affiliate link to this great new site I really love" and then you check out the site and think "this isn't really all that great". Hopefully this back fires naturally I have stopped following several of the well known US make money online gurus because I just don't trust what they are saying any more. That and it all gets a bit samey!
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