websense

Just blogged the other day about how the FCC is trying to regulate so many aspects of the Web, including the devices we use to access it. Now the FTC will be releasing new guidelines, as if more governmental interference will somehow be beneficial. Everyone in the Web world has been talking about this for months, but it seems that the FTC is getting close to finalizing the new regulations on Social Media, under the guise of “Truth in Advertising” or some nonsense. The FTC was designed to protect consumers. Instead it has become the ultimate government bureaucracy. If you go to the Web site, you can see for yourself that the agency has gone from consumer advocacy to policy makers and law enforcement.

So what’s the deal? Well, the deal appears to be that a lot of exchange of money and goods is going on in the social media arena. Everything from mommy bloggers recommending their “favorite” stroller, to celebrities tweeting about the best new restaurant in town. Sometimes these blogs or tweets are done in exchange for money, or many times, the item in question. I’m sure there are plenty of bloggers out there who would only recommend a product they truly liked, just as I am sure there are some who would take the money or item and say whatever the company wanted them to say. As for the celebrity endorsements, I have to be a bit more cynical. They know that whatever they lend their voice/name/tweet to can earn them some cash or other remuneration, and I’ll bet there are few who do it for free, or just for the heck of it.

The FTC is looking to make sure that people know and understand what is advertising, and what is not, as well as allowing themselves leeway to check into any social media activities such as posting a comment on a site or forum, and your tweets about the great new product you just tried could get you into trouble, especially if the FTC thinks you were paid or given the product. The proposed new rules are supposedly still in staff discussions at the FTC, but they could be in place as early as this month.

So, you, as a consumer and user of social media can tell when a product is being pushed, and when someone really likes it, I would hope. I mean, do we really need MORE government regulation, or can we manage to function as grown ups consumers in our own right? Sounds like a Freedom of Speech issue to me, just one more area where we are rapidly losing our freedom, and control over our own lives…

Social media marketers are always looking for a way to take a client’s video “viral”. It’s pretty tricky business, the video has to be fun, special or unique in some way that makes people just spread it throughout the Web, like a flu bug, hence the term “viral”. Well, here is a a cool little video about YouTube’s 100 Greatest Hits. I’m sure you’ll remember some of these!

Possibly the best thing about most of them, is that they weren’t “staged” or created to go viral. It was natural.

By the way…for Grown-Ups only!

Not much of a basketball watcher, but I happened to notice that the NBA released their new regulations on the use of cell phones, Blackberries, iPhones, and the like by players, coaches and other team employees and therefore restricting the use of social media sites during games. The new restrictions are almost identical to those announced by the NFL a couple of weeks ago.

This measn that the use of social media must stop an hour and a half before a game, all during the game, and for 45 minutes after a game, and only after traditional media obligations have been fulfilled. So no, Lebron can’t text you back in the middle of the game. He’s too busy carrying the team on his back anyways.