Comments on: Bloggers to be Fined for Not Disclosing Payments

By: RC - RC Rambling

RC - RC Rambling — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 05:17:24 +0000

I have mixed feelings on this one, and because of the lack of rules (blogging is still a bit of the Wild West), I’m cautious when I’m reading reviews on blog sites, unless I know the writer well and know what his/her policy is on sharing such information.

As for me, as you know, I disclose it all when I’ve been asked to review something. I think it is only right, especially since I come from a journalism/public relations background.

By: Caution - Read At Your Own Risk | Blogging Without A Blog

Caution - Read At Your Own Risk | Blogging Without A Blog — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 22:49:40 +0000

[...] Bloggers to be Fined Up to $11000 for Not Disclosing Payments by Vered at Momgrind [...]

By: MomGrind

MomGrind — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 20:38:02 +0000

It's a tricky question. We see the blogger as responsible for protecting the reader, but many bloggers are not exactly media moguls - they are just individuals who write thoughts and opinions; plus, the FTC rules cover social media use as well, and as Mr. Jarvis says (see The Lawyer Mom's comment), most bloggers and most people who participate in social media do not consider themselves as making media – they are simply talking and connecting.

By: Mrs. Micah

Mrs. Micah — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 20:29:16 +0000

@Barbara Ling, and how do you propose doing that research? When I google a particular financial product, or a face cream, or really any product, I immediately find bloggers reviewing it. Blogs are places where people do their research nowadays. Blogs and message boards.

I’m confused what your idea of personal responsibility is. Should people automatically discount blogs as sources of information? Is that responsible–and if so, where do you suggest they get other people’s viewpoints on how a product works? Should we not look for other people’s opinions?

Or should people who know they’re providing information that’s going to influence buying decisions be responsible enough to say “hey, I want you to know that I got to review this for free, even if I don’t think that influenced my review”?

By: Barbara Ling, Virtual Coach

Barbara Ling, Virtual Coach — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:52:15 +0000

Here’s a novel idea – people have their OWN responsibility to do their OWN due diligence and research…instead of blindly accepting everything they see.

What a concept, eh?

By: Marelisa

Marelisa — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 06:19:45 +0000

Hi Vered: I include a note in my blog posts if I have affiliate links, but I think I’m going to add something to my “legal” section as well. Even if there weren’t a law in effect, I consider it to be good practice to let people know that you make money if they buy a product from your blog, for the sake of transparency.

By: MomGrind

MomGrind — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 03:45:34 +0000

Thanks for the link – very interesting. I agree with Mr. Jarvis – most bloggers and most people who participate in social media do not consider themselves as making media – they are simply talking and connecting.

By: The Lawyer Mom

The Lawyer Mom — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 01:53:21 +0000

This is just one big burgeoning mess. For instance, and I quote from a savvy blogger:

“The regulations raise no end of questions. For example: How much do I have disclose? Before I say anything nice about anyone, do I need to list every advertiser I’ve ever had? Every possible business relationship? You think my disclosures are comical now, just wait.”

http://www.buzzmachine.com/2009/10/05/ftc-regulates-our-speech/

And let’s not even talk about what fellow “endorsers” might put in your comment section, even after you’ve legally “disclosed” what the government wants you to disclose.

At first blush, it all sounds so nice and reasonable . . . as things usually do when the government initially takes something over. But make no mistake folks, this is the camel’s nose under the tent and the government will soon be regulating what was once free speech on the internet.

By: Davina

Davina — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 21:28:36 +0000

Hi Vered. I was thinking the same thing as John Hoff said — “Get all the developers of blogging software on board and perhaps create a “notice” for bloggers.” Otherwise, I would think that a person should get a stern warning first if they “offended”.

By: janice

janice — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 18:42:27 +0000

This was scary! I haven’t gone down the affiliate route much, but even so, where will this end? Does it mean I can’t recommend books any more if they’re in my Amazon bookshop? That I can’t write about an ebook sent as a gift, even if I subsequently love it and want to showcase the author with no benefit to me? Scary… Thanks, Vered & co. As a newbie, I’m glad to have you all to keep me straight.