Socially Aware

May 25, 2016 - Labor Law, Employment Law, Compliance
Don’t Worry, Be (Un)Happy: Does U.S. Labor Law Protect a Worker’s Right to a Bad Attitude?
By: Mary Race
A few months ago, we noted that a Yelp employee’s online “ negative review ” of her employer might be protected activity under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), given that the National Relations Labor Board (NLRB) has become increasingly aggressive in protecting an
... ›
May 19, 2016 - Advertising, Digital Content, Endorsement Guides, FTC, Compliance, Online Endorsements
Show Me the Money: Are Social Media Celebrities and Other Online Content Creators Really Raking in the Cash?
Social media has allowed aspiring authors, musicians, filmmakers and other artists to publish their works and develop a fan base without having to wait to be discovered by a publishing house, record label or talent agency. And that seems to have made at least
... ›
May 17, 2016 - Advertising, UK, Compliance
Social Media Competitions in the UK: Play Fair
By: Mercedes Samavi
With 1.65 billion users on Facebook, 332 million users on Twitter and 400 million on Instagram, it is unsurprising that many companies are seeking to increase brand awareness and customer engagement by running competitions via social media. If you want to avoid attracting the
... ›
May 05, 2016 - FTC, Compliance
Innovative Social Media Marketing Cannot Overlook Old-Fashioned Compliance
By: Julie O'Neill
Social media is all about innovation, so it is no surprise that social media marketers are always looking for innovative ways—such as courting social media “influencers” and using native advertising—to promote products and services to customers and potential customers. But, as the retailer Lord
... ›
January 13, 2016 - FTC, Data Security, Privacy, Big Data, Compliance
Big Data, Big Challenges: FTC Report Warns of Potential Discriminatory Effects of Big Data
By: Mary Race and Julie O'Neill
In a new report , the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) declines to call for new laws but makes clear that it will continue to use its existing tools it to aggressively police unfair, deceptive—or otherwise illegal—uses of big data. Businesses that conduct big data analytics,
... ›
January 07, 2016 - E-Commerce, Live streaming, Disappearing Content, Marketing, Privacy, Compliance, Wearable Computers
Our List of Lists
By: Aaron P. Rubin
January is the month when lists—lists of predictions, lists of trends, lists of feats and lists of failures—pervade social media newsfeeds and publications’ headlines. Here at Socially Aware we’re making an annual tradition of curating a “List of Lists”—an inventory of the roundups that
... ›
January 05, 2016 - FTC, Marketing, Compliance
An FTC Warning on Native Advertising
By: Julie O'Neill
“Native advertising”—ads that may blur the distinction between advertising and editorial, video or other content—has been a hot topic in recent years for both marketers and regulators. It is popular with marketers because it is apparently an effective advertising model. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC),
... ›
December 21, 2015 - Endorsement Guides, FDA Regulations, FTC, Marketing, Compliance, IP, Online Endorsements
Influencer Marketing: Tips for a Successful (and Legal) Advertising Campaign
By: Julie O'Neill
In an age of explosive growth for social media and declining TV viewership numbers , companies are partnering with so-called “influencers” to help the companies grow their brands. Popular users of Instagram, Vine, YouTube and other social media sites have gained celebrity status ,
... ›
December 01, 2015 - FTC, Marketing, Privacy, Compliance
Cross-Device Tracking Attracts Interest From Regulators, Prompts Guidance From Industry Group
By: Julie O'Neill
Cross-device tracking is a hot new issue for regulators. Companies engaged in the practice should take note of two recent developments. On November 16, 2015, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hosted a workshop on the issue and, perhaps not coincidentally, on the same day
... ›
October 05, 2015 - Online Promotions, Marketing, Online Reviews, Compliance
How UK Brands That Use Vlogger Endorsements & Social Media for Marketing Can Stay on the Right Side of the Law
Vloggers have become the reality stars of our times. For an increasing number of social media users, what was once a hobby is now a lucrative career. You may be surprised to learn that Felix Kjellberg (aka “PewDiePie”), a 25-year-old Swedish comedian and the
... ›