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While we at FindLaw have done a fine job of addressing corporate social media policy as it relates to employees, we have not yet spoken to creating a social media policy as it relates to your company's marketing and advertising.
An article in the ACC Docket magazine brought to light various issues that corporate counsel need to consider when it comes to advertising via social media. We've distilled the tips into four easy steps to help you craft an advertising social media policy.
Just as you would review advertisements for compliance with the Federal Trade Commission Act's prohibition of false and deceptive advertising, you must do the same for messages your company conveys through social media. You must include relevant disclosures regarding "health, safety or performance of a product." In making sure that your tweets, shares, pins and video are in line with FTC requirements, you may want to review recent FTC publications on disclosures in digital advertising.
All states have a counter-part to the Federal Trade Commission Act in the form of unfair competition and consumer protection laws. Acquaint yourself with the relevant laws to protect your company on the state level.
The heart of your company's social media policy as it relates to advertising will have to do with giving consumers the appropriate disclosures.
For more information on disclosures, review the FTC's guide on endorsements.
If your company engages in social media campaigns that involve the use and posting of User Generated Content ("UGC") your company must have a cohesive policy in place. Your company can be liable for UGC that is false and misleading. There are many risks associated with these campaigns, especially when they can go viral, so proceed here with caution.
There is no doubt that social media's impact and influence will only grow. Because ultimately, social media use by corporations is a form of advertising, it's necessary for the legal department to take as much care with Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Youtube, and the like, as it would for radio, print and TV.
Has your company created an advertising social media policy? Let us know if we missed anything on Facebook at FindLaw for Legal Professionals.
Editor's note, December 6, 2016: This article was first published in November, 2013. It has since been updated.
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