Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
FTC demands endorsement info from Instagram 'influencers'
Source: Reuters
#INTEL SEPTEMBER 13, 2017 / 6:01 PM / UPDATED AN HOUR AGO
FTC demands endorsement info from Instagram 'influencers'
David Ingram, Diane Bartz
3 MIN READ
SAN FRANCISCO/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. truth-in-advertising enforcers have sent letters to supermodel Naomi Campbell, actresses Lindsay Lohan and Vanessa Hudgens and other celebrities asking whether they have paid deals to endorse products on the photo-sharing app Instagram.
The letters sent by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission to 21 people with large Instagram followings represent an escalation of the agency’s interest in so-called social media “influencers.”
Instagram, which is owned by Facebook Inc, has seen a sharp increase in recent years in promotions of products and services by famous people, often without disclosures of whether there was an endorsement deal.
Celebrities have talked up clothing brands, food, alcohol, spa treatments and a wide array of other items.
The letters demand responses to the FTC by Sept. 30 on whether the celebrities had any “material connection” to marketers whose wares they promoted on the app. The letters were sent on Sept. 6.
-snip-
FTC demands endorsement info from Instagram 'influencers'
David Ingram, Diane Bartz
3 MIN READ
SAN FRANCISCO/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. truth-in-advertising enforcers have sent letters to supermodel Naomi Campbell, actresses Lindsay Lohan and Vanessa Hudgens and other celebrities asking whether they have paid deals to endorse products on the photo-sharing app Instagram.
The letters sent by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission to 21 people with large Instagram followings represent an escalation of the agency’s interest in so-called social media “influencers.”
Instagram, which is owned by Facebook Inc, has seen a sharp increase in recent years in promotions of products and services by famous people, often without disclosures of whether there was an endorsement deal.
Celebrities have talked up clothing brands, food, alcohol, spa treatments and a wide array of other items.
The letters demand responses to the FTC by Sept. 30 on whether the celebrities had any “material connection” to marketers whose wares they promoted on the app. The letters were sent on Sept. 6.
-snip-
Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-ftc-celebrities/ftc-demands-endorsement-info-from-instagram-influencers-idUSKCN1BO2TE