It’s the Wild West out here on the Internet. While individual social media companies face lawsuits over copyrights, privacy and antitrust violations, Washington debates bills like SOPA and PIPA to help redefine the law for the Digital Age. This infographic from the Socially Aware blog examines the key moments that led us to what can only be described as a hot, electrically-charged mess.
Launch a social media campaign that will build your brand and deliver results in our online Social Media Marketing Boot Camp starting June 7. Speakers include Abigail Cusick (Bravo Digital), Gregory Galant (Sawhorse Media), Alex Leo (Thomson Reuters Digital), Jim Tobin (Ignite Social Media), and many more. Read the reviews. 
With Buzz now behind Google, the company can enjoy the triumph of more than 40 million people joining Google+ with more accomplishments in the future. Clearly, Google aspires to create great products that changes people’s lives on a daily.
Regulatory watchdog the Center for Regulatory Effectiveness is picking up the scent of Facebook, Twitter, and Google, filing a petition with the Federal Trade Commission urging the agency to impose trade regulations on the three Internet giants.
Like many marketers these days, Nashville-based Legacy Learning Systems recruited “reviews” by affiliates to advertise its “Learn and Master Guitar” DVD series. This practice is, of course, a big “no-no” under the FTC’s guides.
The buzz surrounding Google’s Buzz is officially over. The online search giant has reached a settlement with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over claims that it used deceptive tactics and violated privacy policies when it introduced the controversial social networking service last year.
As the online privacy debate continues to swirl from Main Street to Silicon Valley to Capitol Hill, Facebook, for one, has fired back with a nuanced and detailed reply to inquiries both Congress and the Federal Trade Commission. What’s included in the response tells us much about the social network’s long-term philosophy on the privacy issue, and its plans for the future.
What happened recently to rapper 50 Cent after Tweeting from the floor of a trade show is a classic example of a shrewd entrepreneur using social media. Unfortunately, without knowing it, by virtue of those Tweets, 50 Cent is now in the crosshairs of a great online debate.
When the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) last week endorsed a “Do Not Track” tool for the Web, the agency compared it to the popular, and successful, “Do Not Call” list that blocks telemarketers from contacting consumers. The agency’s vision of a similar tool that would allow consumers to prevent advertisers from collecting their data and tracking their online habits is a lofty goal, but will it work? We take a look at the top reasons why what works for telemarketing may not work for online advertising.
The Federal Trade Commission has officially endorsed a “Do Not Track” tool for the Web that would allow consumers to prevent advertisers from collecting their data and tracking their online habits. With the endorsement, the FTC bucked strong advertising forces and placed the burden of privacy protection squarely on the shoulders of marketers, not consumers. Still to be determined is if such a tool can succeed, and if it is what consumers really want and need.
Privacy is undoubtedly the buzzword of social media these days, just ask Google, Facebook, MySpace, YouTube and even Craigslist. The public is concerned, the media has fixed its glare on the issue, but where do our nation’s policy makers stand? With Congress out of session until after the November elections, there’s no better time than the present for our online privacy legislative refresher. Consider it your ‘Fall Break’ reading.
