Facebook is being sued. This in itself is not news. On any given day, the social media giant is facing litigation for something. But, one lawsuit is particularly intriguing because it’s over a false “like.”
In an article on ReadWrite, Selena Larson writes that the social network is being accused of using friends’ “likes” in advertisements for brands they never endorsed.
A Facebook user, Anthony Ditirro, of Colorado, filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of Northern California, seeking damages of $750 for himself and anyone else who was featured in an ad without giving their consent. Ditrro says he was in an ad for USA Today that claimed he “liked” their page when he had not.
Facebook is restructuring its advertising program and getting rid of its Sponsored Stories, which featured pages that individuals, organizations, or businesses paid to highlight in their newsfeed, ensuring that it would be seen by more people. I’m not sure that this is a better solution, but I suppose it’s preferable to the allegations that Facebook has used dead users to “like” a page from the grave. Seriously? A company with more than a billion users a month really has to go six feet under for validation?
Social media is about engaging with your ideal client and prospects in a way that’s authentic and builds relationships yet what’s the point if the platform isn’t doing the same thing?
What do you think? Please comment below.
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Robin Taney, (aka the “Get R.E.A.L Girl”) is the owner and founder of Studio 4 PR. She works with women entrepreneurs who are FED UP with being invisible and want to learn how being realistic, engaging, authentic, and of a long-lasting mindset (in other words, real) can help them get DISCOVERED by their ideal client. You can connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest, and sign up for her newsletter, Get R.E.A.L. You are welcome to use this post on your blog, provided you do not alter it in any way and include a link to this blog.