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Paid influencers must label some posts as ads, German court rules

reuters.com

131–140 of 184 posts

Re: Paid influencers must label some posts as ads, German court rules

#131

The headline in a domestic newspaper reads "There are some product placements that influencers do not need to label as ads" https://www.zeit.de/digital/internet/2021-09/bundesgerichtsh... :D it's all about framing

What does "übertrieben werblich" even mean?

Did those people read any Apple fanboy blogs lately? These people actually pay Apple AND write overboarding positive reviews.

Re: Paid influencers must label some posts as ads, German court rules

#132

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It seems to be WILDLY unenforced then, no? In the USA, it doesn't seem to be done. I was actually shocked -- and then realized how naive I was -- when i was talking to someone at a party who had a tiktok where she reviewed garden products, to find out that it wasn't just "free product", she was literally getting paid by the companies to give them good reviews, and from the tiktok you wouldn't know she wasn't just rev…

Perhaps I'm unimaginitive, but it seems impossible to enforce anyway: how can you tell the difference between my verbose and well-thought-out positive review of a product I really liked, compared to someone paid to come up with their own positive review? Cynically, for years I've been treating pretty much every single product review I encounter as though it's bought by the manufacturer. Ya know, since the internet is…

[deleted]

Re: Paid influencers must label some posts as ads, German court rules

#133

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most of the statutes that can only be enforced by the federal government are like this: it's not just the FTC. Federal law enforcement is a teensy tick on top of an enormous dog which is crime. The FTC is really small compared to its purported bailiwick. It would need more lawyers than the largest law firms in the US to accomplish anything close to its responsibilities, and it would need to duplicate the FBI to act a…

Unfortunately, this means that there is no equal treatment under the law, which means that the rule of law is only partial.

Now you’re getting it

Re: Paid influencers must label some posts as ads, German court rules

#134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It seems to be WILDLY unenforced then, no? In the USA, it doesn't seem to be done. I was actually shocked -- and then realized how naive I was -- when i was talking to someone at a party who had a tiktok where she reviewed garden products, to find out that it wasn't just "free product", she was literally getting paid by the companies to give them good reviews, and from the tiktok you wouldn't know she wasn't just rev…

Perhaps I'm unimaginitive, but it seems impossible to enforce anyway: how can you tell the difference between my verbose and well-thought-out positive review of a product I really liked, compared to someone paid to come up with their own positive review? Cynically, for years I've been treating pretty much every single product review I encounter as though it's bought by the manufacturer. Ya know, since the internet is…

> how can you tell the difference between...

Probably by finding the financial records that you received payment from the brand.

Re: Paid influencers must label some posts as ads, German court rules

#135

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> They dont make assumptions about anything unless its in the rule book, as a rule. I'm curious. Is this in any German rulebook? (I secretly want it to be).

The secret rule book was lost during WW1 which is why thinks went so out of hand afterwards. (Sorry for the bad joke, but as a German the though that there is a secret rule book which was lost in WW1 had me rolling, I just have no idea why??) > Is this in any German rulebook? Idk. but I feel that: - State organs often act as if it's the case. - Politicians often do some many (bad/wrong) assumptions hat I feel it woul…

In the aftermath of WW1 the secret rule book was accidentally allowed to become too secret.

Re: Paid influencers must label some posts as ads, German court rules

#136
Whether or not these influencers should have to label ads is one thing.

But... I'll note how "little guy" regulation works relative to major players.

You don't see court, legislature decisions, or such upending the business model of a FB, Google or whatnot. Every word will be negotiated, Google and/or FB will have control over implementation. Often, the regulation will be a net positive, given that it can slow small competitors down. The process will take years, the roll out will be gradual....

"Influencers" or really anyone selling content via platforms can have rules slapped onto them by either the state or the platform without notice, lots of potential for revenue disruption... It's easy to belittle the little, and this article kind does it too: "The court said one fitness influencer should have been clear she was advertising when she was paid to promote a brand of jam."

Meanwhile.. FB, Adwords and such got decades of lead time. Extreme tolerance of various dubious practices as regulation designed to be business friendly at the cost of timeliness & effectiveness was slowly formulated. No parliament demands Fast and Furious post little notices, nor have they over decades.

Re: Paid influencers must label some posts as ads, German court rules

#137
post #69
post #52

can we stop using the euphemism "influencers"? There's several words in English to describe them. I like "shill"

I think most influencers openly communicate that they are sponsored. A shill intentionally obscures it. In this sense it's not a euphemism, it's just a different thing altogether.

until the influencers were forced to disclose they were sponsored (in the US), they actively obscured the fact.

shills by intent

Re: Paid influencers must label some posts as ads, German court rules

#138
post #136

Whether or not these influencers should have to label ads is one thing. But... I'll note how "little guy" regulation works relative to major players. You don't see court, legislature decisions, or such upending the business model of a FB, Google or whatnot. Every word will be negotiated, Google and/or FB will have control over implementation. Often, the regulation will be a net positive, given that it can slow small…

You’re right, but it’s worth pointing out that the other party being slowed down by these rules are corporations that are paying influencers to post ads, some of which are quite large. They’re losing a source of sneaky ads hidden as genuine personal endorsement.

Re: Paid influencers must label some posts as ads, German court rules

#139

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Perhaps I'm unimaginitive, but it seems impossible to enforce anyway: how can you tell the difference between my verbose and well-thought-out positive review of a product I really liked, compared to someone paid to come up with their own positive review? Cynically, for years I've been treating pretty much every single product review I encounter as though it's bought by the manufacturer. Ya know, since the internet is…

> how can you tell the difference between my verbose and well-thought-out positive review of a product I really liked, compared to someone paid to come up with their own positive review? Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but isn't this the problem of enforcement period? How can you tell I didn't just buy this garage full of Playstations and throw away the receipt? How can you tell he was pushed over that cliff, and he didn…

that's simple, by disclosing that it was sponsored or paid for. Then let readers be the judge.

Re: Paid influencers must label some posts as ads, German court rules

#140

With this new decision how exactly does tings work as so far as not giving the influencer money but other goods. For example a gaming pc brand give a fully built top-of-the-line in exchange for publicity. Would a video by that person on the brand be labeled an ad or not?

For music making products (hardware and software) it’s become common for influencers to get products for free without official strings attached. Of course a bad review will most likely stop the free flow of products to that influencer.

I’m not sure who’s being scammed more, the video viewer or the video maker.

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