New FTC rules could unveil pay-for-reviews

Watch out if you’re contemplating writing a product review-for-pay.    Potential new rules from the Federal Trade Commission could force you to reveal any compensation you’ve received in return for promoting a product or service.  

In my mind, this would be a good thing!   Social networking is all about transparency, and there’s not much transparent if you’re plugging a baby diaper or a software tool when you’re being paid secretly “behind the curtain.”

The Arizona Republic interviewed fellow blogger Amanda Vega about this recently, and she raised some good points. 

• Manufacturers might very well start sponsoring popular bloggers, in the way that NASCAR drivers attract sponsorships
• The UK already has rules promoting honest communication standards in the social networking communities
• The proposed FTC rules are actually more restrictive than those that exist currently for other forms of media, including television, radio and print.

Amanda doesn’t advocate going ahead with the new FTC rules because of the inequality between the forms of media regulations, and because her firm feels they already practice honesty and transparency and it’s pretty easy to do.

I’m not in agreement, although I respect Amanda’s opinion and definitely understand the ramifications of precedents.   I just find most people in the often-anonymous online world to be scurrilous, and I want that extra protection.   But can it be enforced properly?  I don’t know.