Sponcon Disclosure Lessons from Teen Vogue’s Facebook Article Controversy

As the lines between journalism and advertising become increasingly blurred, media companies must be on high alert for potential pitfalls around the failure to properly disclose sponsored content. The proper characterization of content as commercial advertising, and the proper disclosure of such sponsored content, has drawn the scrutiny of both the Federal Trade Commission and the National Advertising Division in recent years. Teen Vogue’s equivocation on whether an uncritical article on Facebook’s role in the 2020 election amounted to sponsored content provides many lessons from which other media companies should learn. Earlier today, Teen Vogue published an article titled, “How Facebook Is Helping Ensure the Integrity of the 2020 Election.” The Twitterverse was set abuzz, because it seemed to be overly laudatory of Facebook and did not contain any critical questioning.  Commentators found the questions posed and the tone of the article surprising in light of Facebook’s role in the 2016 election and its recent public pronouncement regarding its approach in 2020. “Interesting pivot for Teen Vogue here to… Facebook PR?” tweeted Steven Perlberg, a freelance writer formerly with BuzzfFeed News and The Wall Street Journal, while Molly Jong-Fast of The Daily Beast described the article as “so sketchy.” Approximately an hour after it was posted, Teen Vogue added a prominent disclosure below the headline, stating, “Editor’s note: This is sponsored editorial content.” In a... Continue reading at 'Folio Magazine'

[ Folio Magazine | 2020-01-09 00:40:34 UTC ]
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Nancy Pelosi condemns Facebook as 'willing enablers of Russian interference'

House speaker says ‘I can take it’ after site keeps doctored video up, but criticizes their role in spread of false informationHouse speaker Nancy Pelosi has strongly criticised Facebook for failing to tackle misinformation after the social media network refused to take down a video that had... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2019-05-30 12:31:29 UTC ]
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‘Linear cannot exist by itself’: OpenAP wants to help TV ad sellers contend with Google, Facebook

At the center of the TV industry’s audience targeting efforts is OpenAP, which will roll out a marketplace for advertisers to buy targeted TV and digital video ads. The post ‘Linear cannot exist by itself’: OpenAP wants to help TV ad sellers contend with Google, Facebook appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2019-05-30 04:01:33 UTC ]
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Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg to face leadership vote

Some shareholders want Facebook's chairman and chief executive to step down from one of his roles. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2019-05-29 23:23:57 UTC ]
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Nancy Pelosi Criticizes Facebook for Handling of Altered Videos

Ms. Pelosi said the company’s decision to leave up manipulated videos of her demonstrated how the social network contributed to Russian manipulation of the 2016 election. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2019-05-29 22:22:21 UTC ]
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Facebook expands playable ads and transparency for brands

Platform is also introducing more transparency for advertisers on how effectively their creative is being used. Continue reading at Media Week

[ Media Week | 2019-05-29 15:49:28 UTC ]
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Facebook's pivot to privacy will make data more powerful than ever

The platform is increasing its focus on Groups, where algorithms will have even more influence on the content users see. Continue reading at Media Week

[ Media Week | 2019-05-29 13:15:44 UTC ]
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Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg summonsed after no-show

Zuckerberg and Sandberg will be required to come before Canada's Parliament should they venture to into the country. Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2019-05-29 06:41:19 UTC ]
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Digiday Research: Facebook still delivers the greatest reach for publisher content

Forty-five percent of 124 publishers surveyed by Digiday said that Facebook provides the greatest reach for unpaid posted content. While few publishers see strong reach from content posted to their pages, engaging content being shared organically by users is driving significant amounts of... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2019-05-29 04:01:04 UTC ]
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Facebook’s Dystopian Definition of ‘Fake’

For the social-media platform, a doctored video of Nancy Pelosi is content, not a phony. Continue reading at The Atlantic

[ The Atlantic | 2019-05-28 17:27:07 UTC ]
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'Call their bluff': Shut down social media platforms, ex-Facebook adviser urges

A former Facebook adviser is urging governments around the world to shut down social media platforms until they can be reformed. Continue reading at CBC

[ CBC | 2019-05-28 14:17:44 UTC ]
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People Are Spending More Time on Instagram, at the Expense of Facebook and Snapchat

Adults in the U.S. will spend the same number of average minutes per day on Facebook and Snapchat this year as they did in 2018, but they will devote more time to Instagram, according to the latest figures from eMarketer. The consultancy found that U.S. adult Facebook users are spending an... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2019-05-28 10:00:50 UTC ]
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More than half of Ireland's GDPR probes are related to Facebook

Ireland's data watchdog has launched 19 investigations since GDPR came into force. Continue reading at Media Week

[ Media Week | 2019-05-28 08:26:30 UTC ]
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Germany’s biggest publisher sales houses unite to fight Google, Facebook and Amazon

Axel Springer and Funke Mediengruppe’s joint sales house Media Impact has joined forces with the joint sales house of fellow publishing juggernauts RTL Groupe and Gruner+Jahr to solidify an advertising alliance that sells the combined inventory of all four media groups. The post Germany’s... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2019-05-28 04:01:59 UTC ]
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Facebook says it will blow whistle on attempts to interfere in election

Facebook will take down accounts that try to interfere with the upcoming federal election and make it public regardless of whether the government decides to advise Canadians of an attempt to interfere, says Facebook's head of public policy for... Continue reading at CBC

[ CBC | 2019-05-27 20:13:21 UTC ]
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The Guardian view on Facebook: power without responsibility | Editorial

Social media cannot ensure they only publish truths. But what about deliberate falsehoods designed to damage?Are social media companies responsible for the lies their users tell? Both the obvious answers, “yes” and “no”, are clearly wrong. Complete responsibility is a bad idea, and impossible in... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2019-05-27 17:25:07 UTC ]
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Facebook's Zuckerberg, Sandberg won't appear before committee, could be found in contempt of Parliament

Canadian MPs are warning that Facebook's top officials could be found in contempt of Parliament if they continue to ignore a subpoena to testify in Ottawa this week, as representatives for the company confirmed Monday that founder Mark Zuckerberg... Continue reading at CBC

[ CBC | 2019-05-27 08:00:00 UTC ]
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London, Ont., court to decide if police can access Facebook messages

A London, Ont., homicide case could help determine how far into your Facebook inbox the arm of the law could reach for investigative purposes.  Continue reading at CBC

[ CBC | 2019-05-27 08:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook ‘gives global platform to illegal dogfighting’

Social media giant breaks its own rules on violence and animal trading, say campaignersFacebook has been accused of giving a global platform to dogfighting after an investigation found the site is being used by fight organisers and unscrupulous puppy traders.Lady Freethinker (LFT), the animal... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2019-05-26 07:00:06 UTC ]
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The NHL is bringing its Facebook Live show ‘Stanley Cup Live’ to Twitter

The NHL's move to simulcast on Facebook and Twitter indicates a parity between the platforms but also shows how their livestreaming services differ. The post The NHL is bringing its Facebook Live show ‘Stanley Cup Live’ to Twitter appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2019-05-24 04:00:38 UTC ]
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Is Facebook undermining democracy in Africa?

Critics say the social media giant has allowed its platform to be weaponised during elections on the continent. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2019-05-23 23:20:39 UTC ]
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