Comments on: Should We Assume All Social Media is Paid?

By: Allen Stern

Allen Stern — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 22:11:36 +0000

thanks bliss – of course your views are worth a lot – way more than two cents :) – I read your post and will reply over there…

By: bliss - fiesta agent 14

bliss - fiesta agent 14 — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 20:36:46 +0000

my two cents (or two dollars) for what they’re worth…

http://oddlittlebean.com/blog/twodollars/

By: Miiko Mentz

Miiko Mentz — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 01:41:58 +0000

This is a growing issue so I’m glad to see it being discussed. I certainly don’t have all the answers but like the discussion and awareness around the issue so we can develop best practices.

We need to figure out how to best handle disclosure in other social media vehicles beyond blogs, because you’re right Allen, once the vehicle leaves its origin, such as the example you gave, a video, the disclosure doesn’t go with it if it’s not attached to the vehicle/medium and resides back on the original post. Of course Twitter is a bit different than videos and there’s some gray areas, but I kind of like Dean Collins’ idea of using a “$” sign. Hey, Dean you might be onto something.

Thanks Allen, good post and discussion!

By: Allen Stern

Allen Stern — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:48:30 +0000

Amy – I noted in the post that we can talk about examples like what you noted for a long time – however paid or sponsored is easy.

And I am sorry but I disagree with regards to your statement about Ford. We can certainly debate whether the campaign is “paid”, we already know there will be “missions” and they just completed a multiple-day training. While we can assume that they can say positive or negative stuff, they are required to talk… and talk… and talk… I will be watching and reporting each month on the missions.

By: Amy Ziari

Amy Ziari — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:22:13 +0000

Do I have to put a “$” sign next to anything I write about a company if I won a Flip camera from them at a trade show? Can someone working in PR talk about a client on Twitter without noting in every post their relationship with that company?

Disclosure is a blurry business. For what it’s worth, I think it should be noted that Ford isn’t telling the agents to do or say anything.

Compare that to Magpie, where they essentially pay Twitter users to say their bidding, and it’s really not apples to apples. What it IS is a really good discussion.

By: If You Want the Party Favors, You’ve Got to Go to the Party | Kyle Lacy, Social Media - Indianapolis

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 21:32:23 +0000

[...] Should We Assume All Social Media is Paid? (centernetworks.com) [...]

By: Douglas Griess

Douglas Griess — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:04:44 +0000

Don’t forget the connection to new proposed FTC regulations regarding endorsements in advertising expanding to use by third-parties in social media contexts. Disclosure is likely first step required by FTC, and its a good point that this is harder on Twitter. Doubt that hashtags are enough because it is the perception of potential consumers that matters most, not simply the fact that one made a disclaimer or disclosure available for those who went looking to find out.

By: dean collins

dean collins — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 04:35:39 +0000

Scott, i dont care if you pay, dont pay, or ‘gift’ the fiesta bloggers (in fact i sort of know one of them at arms length.

However – I’d be super curious to know what you think of my $ tag idea?

sure 1 character out of 140 is a reasonable request.

think about it you could start a trend in responsible social media….thats worth PR on it’s own.

looking forward to your response.

Cheers,
Dean

By: Jared O'Toole

Jared O'Toole — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 03:14:42 +0000

I still think most conversations are genuine. but there are a ton of paid ones and most people don’t and will never realize the companies that are paying people. They will say its disclosed and that covers them.

Its tough but I dont think there will ever be a complete standard because to many people will not adapt/ know about that.

By: Allen Stern

Allen Stern — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 01:07:09 +0000

Let’s keep this post general regarding paid and sponsored disclosure on social media services. If you’d like to comment about ford, do it in the ford post please.

By: Delicia Lewis

Delicia Lewis — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 23:37:39 +0000

Sponsered Post have rules and strings attached that the public does not realize, which isn’t fair. Like for example Scott Monty; I replied, and interacted with his twits, and he ran to General Counsel, threating to slap me with a court order to not contact (any ford employees) . So Social Media can be like real like TV . Or real like a passion a mother has when she looses her son to a big bad corporation that failed to recall a $20 part! All great business decisons, just not good for us, regular people, that blog with out the Big FORD FOR EXAMPLE :Scott Monty
Global Digital Communications
Ford Motor Company
@ScottMonty
YES, WE SEE YOUR NAME TWICE SCOTT MONTY!

By: Allen Stern

Allen Stern — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:53:00 +0000

i like that dean – $ for paid/sponsored post

By: dean collins

dean collins — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 21:19:36 +0000

i totally think it’s fine for social media to be paid for….however – get your grubby hands off ‘#’

BS it means this is a paid for post.

People were using # tags way before you guys came along – go find something else to signify a paid for post as # belongs to another purpose.

May i suggest ‘$’ at the start and finish of each post?

Cheers,
Dean
#Cognation

By: Morgan

Morgan — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 19:43:56 +0000

I think your disagreement points out the futility of the argument. People have completely different ideas on what is a good reason for advocacy, what is a conflict, and what is a payment.

People can come up with as many systems as they like, but it is a truly foolish reader that accepts writing as unbiased or true without any real reason. Any voluntary system would work great for people that are voluntarily honest– the very people that aren’t a problem now. And any compulsory system would be unacceptable, and an abdication of our own critical thinking abilities.

I think I am going to to stick with trusting people for my own reasons and let others do the same. In general, disclosure or not, it’s not tough to identify a shill or someone whose opinion you don’t value.

By: Allen Stern

Allen Stern — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 19:17:15 +0000

Scott – we will debate forever as to whether they are paid or not :) Def. not in cash I agree.

Right about the disclosure – that’s what I am talking about here. when a post on a social service is paid or sponsored, how can we be sure that it is such? A hashtag is just not good enough – and I get that a full disclosure statement is not possible. But there has to be some good compromise.

As I noted in my post, companies will use this to their benefit which worries me even more.