New FTC Regulations To Be Released Any Day
October 9th, 2009
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…
