Slide 2:
PR firm admits it’s behind Wal-Mart blogs
Wal-Mart is exposed for falsifying blog websites claiming to be supporters of the company. The positive feedback on the blog websites Working Families for Wal-Mart and Paid Critics were discovered to actually contain posts by employees of Wal-Mart’s PR firm Edelman—not supporting customers writing out of customer satisfaction. This fraudulence indeed puts a scar on Wal-Mart’s reputation.
Corporate blogging: Wal-Mart’s fumbles
The issue of Wal-Mart’s blog falsification is also addressed. The main point of the article seems to be that major corporate blogging is becoming more and more of a reality, under both good circumstances and bad. Blogging seems to be most successful when it makes a large faceless corporation tangible, when two-way conversation is utilized, when language is imperfect, and the writers and messages are straightforward and transparent.
‘Puppets’ Emerge as Internet’s Effective, and Deceptive, Salesman
It highlights the potential of various internet schemes used to persuade naïve internet users to buy products and agree to services. The main focus was a method known as the “Meat Puppet” method. Using this method, a legal file-sharing network known as Ruckus thought up a fictional character known as Brody Ruckus and created a facebook page. After many users added him as a friend, they began to receive solicitations for Ruckus, crossing a fine, potentially violating, line as far as internet marketing is concerned.
Slide 3:
Sony Confesses to Creating ‘Flog,’ Shutters Comments
The article addresses another fake corporate blog (known as a “flog”) put on the internet by a marketing firm connected with Sony. This blog, alliwantforxmasisapsp.com, highlighted a rising rapper and his friend who wanted a PSP. Suspicions came about through the language used on the site (very over-the-top hip-hop style), and a suspicious word filter, among other things. It was eventually traced to the marketing firm Zipatoni, connected directly with Sony.
AOL apologizes for release of user search data
The issue of privacy in the internet community is addressed. AOL, in an attempt to get a Research Website up and running, made the information of 658,000 subscribers available for internet search, sparking privacy concerns despite the atypical coding of the individuals. AOL took the full blame, apologized, and is taking internal steps to assure it will not happen again.
MySpace Glitch Gives Hackers Teen Data
It describes the severe privacy issues MySpace users faced when a hack became public, publishing a code which allowed the private content of minors to be viewed by the public. This went unattended for months, and a race ensued to block these codes faster than hackers could find ways to get around them. The question of legal responsibility of MySpace is also in question as control of this issue continues.
Slide 4:
FTC fines Xanga for violating kids’ privacy
The issue of the company’s violation of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act is addressed. The FTC has ordered Xanga to pay $1 million for allowing children under the age of 13 to register for and use the site without parental consent—a direct violation of this act. Meanwhile, Xanga appears to be taking steps to make the website safer with the addition of new staff in this field.
Snack companies fined $185,000 for violating kids’ online privacy
The article also addresses the violation of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act by Mrs. Fields and Hershey. Both corporations have various web sites aimed at kids and collected information without parental consent. The enforcement of this law was taken to a higher level when Mrs. Fields, who did not provide the information to any third parties, was fined $100,000 and Hershey, who asked but did not enforce parental consent, was fined $85,000.
Banana Boat Contest Backfires, Contestants Cry Foul
It highlighted a user-generated contest the Malibu company put on asking contestants to create a video for the company’s rum themed to the Banana Boat song. However, when Malibu announced a winner and didn’t keep up with the other entries, the corporation came under scrutiny when contestants claimed the contest was rigged, expressed disapproval, and threw out accusations. One sore contestant even made a documentary comparing the contest to a conspiracy.
Slide 5:
Chevy Tries a Write-Your-Own-Ad Approach, and the Potshots Fly
The issue of user-generated advertisement is again addressed. Chevrolet put up a Write-Your-Own-Ad web site, where users could pick clips, music, and text to make their own commercials. However, many of the ads that ended up circulating the internet attacked the Chevy Tahoe on issues such as gas mileage and global warming. Even considering this negativity, the company representatives seemed relatively unsurprised and prepared for such consumer criticism.