Pay me my money down
Several helpful readers have steered me to this story, about the Federal Trade Commission's plan to require bloggers and others to disclose when they are being paid to say nice things about a particular product or service in their writings. I've only been paid to blog once -- the golden era of the Marqui paid blogger program -- and as I happily discharged my duties, I made it clear to readers what was going on.
I think the readers who sent me the latest tip are expecting me to react with outrage. Heck, no! Pay me to blog, people, and I'll gladly reveal it. It reminds me a little of the argument that income taxes discourage people from earning. Whoever said that isn't talking about me. Will work for income, baby! Even ordinary income. As long as it's paid in cash, I'll take care of the revenuers.
| Posted at 10:20 AM | Permalink |
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Comments (8)
Actually, I was thinking of potential effects of big brother's scrutiny of bloggers who offer commentary about commercial matters and aren't paid -- even if that scrutiny is merely to determine they aren't compensated. Chilling effect, slippery slope, etc. How many modern potential cyber-Tom Paines might be discouraged if they have to contend with the FTC?
Posted by Conrad | October 6, 2009 10:53 AM
We have to get over the notion that the internet is the vast unregulated wild west show of the past. It is too big and carries to much power and influence to not have some degree of regulation.
As Jack alluded to, if you pimp a product, let everyone know what you are doing. If you are promoting a product without compensation, then contact the maker to get you a lil sum-sum too.
Posted by mp97303 | October 6, 2009 12:09 PM
Could one aptly refer to the new regulation as a "Truth in Blogging" stipulation???
___Ora et labora___
-ob
Posted by oregbear | October 6, 2009 1:30 PM
I'd like to see that concept applied by the SEC to stock related chatrooms and blogs.. enhanced to acknowledge if they or their affiliated organization own the stock they are commenting on, if yes, is it a long or shorted position, if they are employed within the financial/hedge fund industry and if yes, are they a market maker or stockbroker, and if they were compensated to make such comments.
Posted by Robert | October 6, 2009 3:05 PM
A significant amount of complimentary web content is paid for. Several well-known programs pay folks to write favorable product reviews, for example. Some say most online product reviews are of this type--I'd say less, probably half. So, I rarely trust "reviews" when choosing products.
And once again, the government's clueless. Wait for when they attempt to define "blogger", and the ease with which that definition can be avoided.
Posted by ecohuman | October 6, 2009 3:07 PM
So a guy in Great Britain starts blogging about Ameican candy companies is he going to have to register with the FTC and since he is in Britain how are they going to enforce it if he doesn't register with them?
Posted by Michael Wilson | October 6, 2009 8:23 PM
I'd like to see that concept applied by the SEC to stock related chatrooms and blogs
They do, if you keep at it long enough.
Posted by john rettig | October 6, 2009 10:52 PM
That reminds me. I need to buy some advertising from you.
Posted by Texas Triffid Ranch | October 7, 2009 12:24 PM