FTC at it again, cracking down on endorsement tweets

13 replies
Seems like the FTC is cracking down on endorsement tweets. You are now required to add #ad to your endorsement tweets. Seems like the FTC's sole purpose is to harass internet marketers, but then again, it's no insult to call an ad an ad

Here is where I picked up the story FTC Lays Down the Law on Endorsed Tweets | CopyPressed

Here is the FTC updated disclosure http://www.ftc.gov/os/2013/03/130312...isclosures.pdf
#cracking #endorcement #ftc #tweets
  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    They basically passed that rule YEARS ago! It was codifcation of something done like a decade earlier which was codification of what they were ******CREATED******* for!

    I mean COME ON! If a tweet is for an ad, it is a part of the ad and, AS SUCH, has to be declared as such. Somehow, normal TV ads have pretty much escaped this, as has product placement some what, but just about any other ad, even on TV, has to be declared as such.

    That article says:

    It took 13 years for them to modernize this document, only to put out the message that it doesn’t matter what medium advertisements are on – print, radio, TV, social – the same exact rules apply.
    YEAH, and it took copyright laws oer a hundred years to do the SAME thing. IRONIC, since the original law said NOTHING about format! Copyrights protect EXPRESSION!!!!!! Expression is an old word that applies to the ACT, NOT the method! NOW, it is so convoluted because they try to describe the methods and even TYPES of method and technology.

    Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author kindsvater
      Good grief. The rules for Twitter disclosures are getting as complex as the tax code. I am not in a position to advise ignoring FTC recommendations, but a lot of this guide is going to be ignored. California tried to require similar disclosures in emails and no one cared.

      I liked the claim that a blog post disclosing one is reviewing a product for free is deceptive if there are hyperlinks before the disclosure which could cause someone to link away before reading the disclosure.

      For example: You write a post which includes an affiliate link Then, you disclose your relationship to the merchant. At some point people need to be responsible for reading the full post and accepting the risk if they link away.

      Just like in the real world. If you are presented with a contract, skip over the terms and just sign at the bottom, it is not a defense that you didn't actually read the terms.

      From now on: all legal terms and disclosures must be at the top of every web page, and a visitor must affirmatively click on each paragraph confirming they have read it before being allowed access to the web page.

      .
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  • Profile picture of the author WillR
    Honestly?

    The FTC need to get a life and concentrate their efforts on the things actually causing harm online such as spammers and the like and stop worrying about silly little things like this.
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    • Profile picture of the author Alex Blades
      Originally Posted by WillR View Post

      Honestly?

      The FTC need to get a life and concentrate their efforts on the things actually causing harm online such as spammers and the like and stop worrying about silly little things like this.
      They have to pretend they are doing something and place blame on IMer's, while big companies like Google and Facebook are busy stealing passwords, and violating privacy laws.

      The FTC's sole purpose is to just a provide smoke screen while big companies conduct their illegal activities.
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      • Profile picture of the author WillR
        Originally Posted by Alex Blades View Post

        They have to pretend they are doing something and place blame on IMer's, while big companies like Google and Facebook are busy stealing passwords, and violating privacy laws.

        The FTC's sole purpose is to just a provide smoke screen while big companies conduct their illegal activities.
        I do agree a lot of what the FTC does seems to be for the purpose of keeping up appearances. Meanwhile all the people out there who are ruining the industry continue on without any problems at all.

        Ah well, they have made a few good changes over the years. I just wish they would concentrate their efforts on making changes that are meaningful rather than just making little changes for the sake of trying to look like they are still needed.
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        • Profile picture of the author Alex Blades
          Originally Posted by WillR View Post

          I do agree a lot of what the FTC does seems to be for the purpose of keeping up appearances. Meanwhile all the people out there who are ruining the industry continue on without any problems at all.

          Ah well, they have made a few good changes over the years. I just wish they would concentrate their efforts on making changes that are meaningful rather than just making little changes for the sake of trying to look like they are still needed.
          Waste of taxpayer money IMO, they are not making any real difference online. Like you said they are only trying to keep up on appearances. The FTC blows through tax payer money like water, and gets shit in return.

          The ROI is disgusting, they spend a crap load of taxpayer money, only to give big companies a slap on the wrist, a fine that doesn't even begin to cover the lawsuits they bring forward.
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          " I knew that if I failed, I wouldn't regret that.
          But I knew the one thing I might regret is not ever having tried. "

          ~ Jeff Bezos

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          • Profile picture of the author seasoned
            Originally Posted by Alex Blades View Post

            Waste of taxpayer money IMO, they are not making any real difference online. Like you said they are only trying to keep up on appearances. The FTC blows through tax payer money like water, and gets shit in return.

            The ROI is disgusting, they spend a crap load of taxpayer money, only to give big companies a slap on the wrist, a fine that doesn't even begin to cover the lawsuits they bring forward.
            Well, hopefully groups like the FTC have a budget of somesort limiting lawsuits, and have lawyers working for them. This is one of those cases where on the one hand you hope they are STRONG, to get the scammers, and WEAK to not oppress the innocent.

            Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author writeaway
    Sure beats finding out the hard way, right? It is better than being taken to court by an admin agency so they can 'define' the rules by using your case as a guinea pig
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  • Profile picture of the author Alex Blades
    From now on: all legal terms and disclosures must be at the top of every web page, and a visitor must affirmatively click on each paragraph confirming they have read it before being allowed access to the web page.
    Funny thing is, that companies like Select Quote who gets a commission for referring you to insurance companies, are allowed to run commercials with the disclosure in transparent text, that are gone in a blink of eye.

    Is it really possible to read a disclosure in a fraction of a second?
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    " I knew that if I failed, I wouldn't regret that.
    But I knew the one thing I might regret is not ever having tried. "

    ~ Jeff Bezos

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    • Profile picture of the author kindsvater
      On the other hand ... there is a mountain of intentionally deceptive advertising online with key terms, such as continuity agreements, artfully hidden with the goal of making sure they exist but are not seen. The goal is to fleece buyers.

      This type of public FTC document has, as a purpose, gaining legal leverage over such advertisers by eliminating a claim that they did not know what they were doing was wrong.

      .
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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by Alex Blades View Post

      Funny thing is, that companies like Select Quote who gets a commission for referring you to insurance companies, are allowed to run commercials with the disclosure in transparent text, that are gone in a blink of eye.

      Is it really possible to read a disclosure in a fraction of a second?
      It's a proven fact that the longer it is the smaller it must generally be and that the smaller and longer it is the less likely ANYONE will read it. Sadly, it has gotten to this and some scammers take advantage of it. And THAT is why they codify things like text to add, which makes it even worse.

      And this IS a big problem. There are TONS of dishonest reviews and tweets, People have written books about doing something to get others to encourage people to give you money, and then use that method to encourage them to give them money, etc....

      Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author Alex Blades
    Well, hopefully groups like the FTC have a budget of somesort limiting lawsuits,
    There is no budget when it comes to tax payer money, they may have guidelines, but no budget.
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    " I knew that if I failed, I wouldn't regret that.
    But I knew the one thing I might regret is not ever having tried. "

    ~ Jeff Bezos

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  • Profile picture of the author Ben Gordon
    I wish them all of luck getting people to comply.

    The only people it will hurt are genuine businesses.
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