I saw this on FB and figured I’d share on the blog. Most of what I see on FB is promotion, so I don’t totally get it. When I post almost anything on facebook, I’m usually linking directly from this blog. And since this blog isn’t for profit, I assume it’s not considered promotional. But there are gray areas I’m not sure I understand. I’ve never held a contest or asked for money. And if I’m not supposed to do what I’ve been doing for so long, why is there a link on google blogger to FB. I’m assuming this has more to do with contests and marketing promotions, not bloggers. But if I’m wrong, I’m sure I’ll find out soon enough.
Frankly, all I see on FB are promotions for one contest or another. I get e-mail updates and notifications constantly from people I don’t know and never will know. I don’t mind. It takes a second to click “delete,” and sometimes there’s a promotion I am interested in reading about. And if everyone stopped promoting on FB the only thing FB would have left would be status updates about someone’s Aunt Nancy, what Betty Jane made for dinner, and how grampa just passed his kidney stone.
I’m not certain whether or not this falls under the stipulations stated below, but last year I did see something questionable on FB that left me wondering. A guy from New York, who happens to have a well known brother in local TV news in the Philadelphia area, was promoting himself as a musician and hocking people for donations. It was like this weird fundraiser…for HIMSELF. I didn’t like that. And I promptly clicked “unfriend,” but last I saw he made a nice little bag of loot from facebook, through virtual strangers, that added up to thousands of dollars.
Promotions Guidelines
Date of Last Revision: May 11, 2011
These Promotion Guidelines, along with the Statement of Rights and Responsibilities, the Ad Guidelines, the Platform Policies and all other applicable Facebook policies, govern your communication about or administration of any contest, competition, sweepstakes or other similar offering (each, a “promotion”) using Facebook.
If you use Facebook to communicate about or administer a promotion, you are responsible for the lawful operation of that promotion, including the official rules, offer terms and eligibility requirements (e.g., age and residency restrictions), and compliance with regulations governing the promotion and all prizes offered in connection with the promotion (e.g., registration and obtaining necessary regulatory approvals). Please note that compliance with these Guidelines does not constitute the lawfulness of a promotion. Promotions are subject to many regulations and if you are not certain that your promotion complies with applicable law, please consult with an expert.
Promotions on Facebook must be administered within Apps on Facebook.com, either on a Canvas Page or an app on a Page Tab.
Promotions on Facebook must include the following:
a. A complete release of Facebook by each entrant or participant.
b. Acknowledgment that the promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.
c. Disclosure that the participant is providing information to [disclose recipient(s) of information] and not to Facebook.
You must not use Facebook features or functionality as a promotion’s registration or entry mechanism. For example, the act of liking a Page or checking in to a Place cannot automatically register or enter a promotion participant.
You must not condition registration or entry upon the user taking any action using any Facebook features or functionality other than liking a Page, checking in to a Place, or connecting to your app. For example, you must not condition registration or entry upon the user liking a Wall post, or commenting or uploading a photo on a Wall.
You must not use Facebook features or functionality, such as the Like button, as a voting mechanism for a promotion.
You must not notify winners through Facebook, such as through Facebook messages, chat, or posts on profiles or Pages.
You may not use Facebook’s name, trademarks, trade names, copyrights, or any other intellectual property in connection with a promotion or mention Facebook in the rules or materials relating to the promotion, except as needed to fulfill your obligations under Section 2.
Definitions:
a. By “administration” we mean the operation of any element of the promotion, such as collecting entries, conducting a drawing, judging entries, or notifying winners.
b. By “communication” we mean promoting, advertising or referencing a promotion in any way on Facebook, e.g., in ads, on a Page, or in a Wall post.
c. By “contest” or “competition” we mean a promotion that includes a prize of monetary value and a winner determined on the basis of skill (i.e., through judging based on specific criteria).
d. By “sweepstakes” we mean a promotion that includes a prize of monetary value and a winner selected on the basis of chance.
