Moms Who Blog
A general group for all of you mom bloggers out there!
80 Members
Club type:
Common Interest
Leader:
NicholeS
Created:
Sep 25, 2008
Question
How do you think the FTC will change review blogs?
I know a lot of mom bloggers who provide mostly reviews on their site. However, the FTC has been working on changing their policies in regards to product endorsements and reviews on blogs. More or less what they seem to be concerned with is how honest bloggers are being; if they are providing misleading or wrong information to consumers who might find their blog through a search for more information about a certain product.
Many bloggers are paid to provide reviews of products so there is a concern also about whether or not there is a conflict of interest in what they are saying. For instance if a blogger discloses that they were paid X dollars to write a review on a baby toy or baby product are you more apt to believe that what they are giving is a full and honest review of the product? In recent months people are beginning to claim that they feel duped when they discover a blogger was paid or compensated to write a review.
There has already been some changes in the blogosphere about diclosure and reviews, but my question is this, do you think that there will be more backlash from the FTC on how bloggers need to run their blogs or do you think that bloggers are becoming more responsible in informing their readers about their relationship with a product or company?
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2 Answers
If bloggers are paid to do a review then I believe it's no longer about a journalist writing an opinion, it becomes an advertisement and thus should abide by the standards of all advertising.
You've seen those ads in magazines that look like articles but have This is a Paid Advertisement across the top. I don't see the problem in requiring a similar disclaimer.
I review a lot of DVDs and in away I guess you could say I'm paid to do it in that I get the product for free. I still try to give everything a fair review, though I admit, I'm unlikely to post a scathing review of a bad product I'd either give the pros and cons or not run the review at all.
In the end, just because a blogger gets paid and says a product is delicious, that doens't mean I'll enjoy it. It's really just about getting the word out there and nothing more.
You raise an interesting point in that when it's paid it's not a journalist writing an opinion; many of the moms blogging have no journalism experience at all so that is one of the things that mainstream media is complaining about.
Many bloggers are adding a disclaimer at the bottoms of their posts (or an image) that lets readers know if the product was supplied or if they were compensated monetarily for the review.
My personal opinion is that I don't like taking money for a review because then, like you mentioned it becomes an advertisement but I do receive the products for free.
I've never written a scathing review of a product that was sent to me, but I like to give all points of the product when doing a review - which can be tough if I really liked the product (in that case I say I can't find any drawbacks and that it's a good fit for us).
I do have a section in my review policy though that lets companies know that I provide an honest review.