Businesses have quickly learned that the use of social media as a valuable selling tool. Many of these marketing departments have set up these social media networks to exchange ideas in areas of marketing to appeal to the internet audience. This use of social media serves two purposes; to engage in conversation with the consumer and to get their message out. The fundamental goal is to reach a wide audience to generate more business. The popularity of these social network sites such as Facebook is due largely to their viral nature; self-promoting. The users of these social networking sites, the consumer, spread the word for the merchant (Burdge, 2011).
From a business standpoint, using social media as a means of advertising to the masses proves beneficial. Take advertising on Facebook for an example. It is reported that Facebook has reached approximately 700 million users. With respect to advertising dollars, it is also reported that sales generated from the use of social media platforms to reach just under $8.5 billion dollars annually by 2015 (Navetta, 2011). There are several approaches marketing managers can take when it comes to social networks which can be used individually or in conjunction with each other such as targeting a potential consumer by demographics, precise targeting, and broad category targeting, but with targeting the masses, comes a great deal of responsibility legally. Companies and marketing departments must be aware of the significant issues that may arise legally in order to protect their interests, in other words, caveat venditor—Let the seller beware.
Companies who employ the services of social media to promote their products may very well find themselves subjected to several legal risks and can be cate...
... middle of paper ...
...precautions to avoid legal risks, merchants can become more profitable from the use of social networks without leaving themselves in a compromising position (Steinman & Hawkins, 2011).
Works Cited
Burdge, R. L. (2011). Legal Implications of Social Networking and New Media in Consumer Transactions. Dayton, Ohio.
Legal Information Institute. (n.d.). Alternative Dispute Resolution. Retrieved May 16, 2014, from Cornell University Law School: http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/alternative_dispute_resolution
Navetta, D. (2011, June 11). The Legal Implications of Social Networking: The Basics (Part One). Retrieved May 11, 2014, from InfoLawGroup,LLP: http://infolawgroup.com/2011/06/articles/social-networking/the-legal-implications-of-social-networking-the-basics-part-one/
Steinman, M. L., & Hawkins, M. (2010, May). When Marketing Through Social Media, Legal Risks Go Viral.
Over the past fifteen years, the use of social media by both the general public and by the business world has expanded dramatically. Social media is one of a number of social technologies - any technological device or technique that can be used to facilitate communication between individuals. Social technology includes everything from the telephone to Wikipedia. Social media, on the other hand, is the use of media platforms which were specifically create to connect users with other users and give them a peak into each other's lives by allowing them exchange information, messages, ideas, pictures, and other personal communication. However, it’s been known to abuse this rapidly growing technology.
Social networking sites promote the sharing of personal information in the public format. Social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter promote the oversharing of details of personal lives. Posts on these platforms may vary in regards to what one may be watching, or having for breakfast, or it may include pictures of one’s latest vacation or nights out with friends at a local bar. (10) Since personal information can be shared very frequently and with ease, consumers are more likely to disregard the restraint they normally would use when sharing information in regards to personal matter. (10, 11)
Social media’s usage in employment decisions has emerged as a contemporary problem in Employment Law for several reasons. The first reason for this trends development is the excessive usage of social media websites. According to a recent Pew report 65% of adults who use the internet have a social media presence in some form. (Hidy 70) With that in mind employers have begun to use the information found within a social media website to obtain information they do not otherwise get on a resume and in an interview. These web pages can give the employer and insight into the true nature of an applicant. However employers need to approach the information on social media websites with care as these sites are easily manipul...
In the last few years social media and technological tools have become a significant part of communication and their popularity has expended to the all areas of our life. The youngest generation of "always on," those who are always connected, post, like, comment, and provide information about every aspect of their life (Imaging the Internet, 2012). This phenomenon, has expanded also into professional lives, business, and health care environments (Randolph, 2012). Undoubtedly social networking like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest or many different blogs are an indispensable part of our reality, however as the most popular modern communication tools are also not free from abuses and carry some ethical issues. A proper use of social
...ion. In Alternative dispute resolution: The litigator's handbook (p. 2). Chicago, IL: American Bar Association, Section of Litigation.
Introduction to Criminal Justice has opened my eyes to how important the use of technology and social media are in understanding how our justice system works. On March 15th 2016, Professor
Nair (2011) states, social media can be described as online tools where content, opinions, perspectives, insights, and media can be shared. Some people create content, while others lurk, observe, or disseminate content. At its core, social media is about relationships and connections between people and organizations.(p. 45) Due to so much information being shared through social media it has changed the way businesses interact with their business partners or vendors, businesses have also started to create new product because of the information that is available to them through social media, thus attaining higher profits. At the same time, because of social media and the amount of information that is shared through these services, businesses have been put in a position where they must be careful how they operate to keep their reputation and na...
"Social Media and Its Effect on Privacy." ASU News. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2013.
Among the billions of social media users, there is a percentage dedicated to businesses who use social media as part of their marketing strategy. The sheer number of people who use services like Facebook and Instagram on a daily
...t result in unethical business behavior. Social networking sites such as Twitter or Facebook have created a new ethical dilemma for many businesses.
Social media marketing is a new trend of marketing where different Businesses have taken to social media sites to market and promote old and existing products and brands or create more awareness of their new products. Facebook and Twitter are the two most well known sites where firms market and promote themselves. Over one billion users worldwide use both sites everyday; from averages Joe’s to famous celebrities. Such is the power of each social media site that one post can make or break you.
Social media avenues are a new, upcoming, and popular way to advertise for businesses and for people to connect to each other. Alexis Ohanian once said that "Being effective at social media, whether for business or personal use, means capturing people who have short attention spans. They 're only a click away from a picture of a funny cat, so you have to make your thing more compelling than that cat. And that can be a high bar." (Ohanian) Powerful usage of social media can have a big impact.
Sanvenero, Richard. "Social Media And Our Misconceptions Of The Realities." Information & Communications Technology Law22.2 (2013): 89-108. Communication & Mass Media Complete. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.
Since social media users grow larger and larger, many companies take the opportunities of using social media marketing to reach more customers. Companies use social media marketing in order to achieve marketing communication and branding goals. Social media allows companies to see what prospects are saying about their brands and competitors. It also allows companies to build deeper relationships with existing customers that drives them to purchase again and again. Not only it can help them generate new leads, but it allows them to build deeper relationships with existing clients that drives them to purchase again and again. It has become common for businesses to branch out and experiment with multiple networks with the aim of reaching the maximum amount of costumers.
Vinson, Kathleen Elliott. "The Blurred Boundaries of Social Networking in the Legal Field: Just "Face" it." The University of Memphis Law Review 41.2 (2010): 355. ProQuest Research Library. Web. 7 May 2014.