Libel lawsuit hits social media

It has been a long-winded discussion in the communications law world: How much control should the government have over the Internet? People argue many of the following: It’s supposed to be the free medium. It’s impossible to control. Even if laws are made, how will they be enforced on such a vast, virtual medium?

The feds have been trying to answer these questions since the Internet hit it big. But they have a straight answer concerning libel and defamation claims because those laws are fairly universal across any medium.

What is libel? In its most basic form, libel is written defamation of character (as opposed to spoken defamation, which is slander). The greatest defense against a libel claim is truth. The judge will say to you what many people say when you make a claim, PROVE IT! Journalists tend to go by the practice of, if you don’t have three sources confirming the statement’s truth, one of them on paper, don’t print it.

Journalists know all about libel. It’s impounded into their brains in college. But for non-journalistic folk, many of whom are now blogging and Tweeting on the Internet, these laws may not be known. This can cause major trouble.

Case in point: Courtney Love vs. fashion designer. The known party girl and rock chick allegedly slammed the designer via a Tweet, triggering a libel lawsuit that would have been unheard of just a few years ago. According to CNN, the suit claims that after a disagreement over what Love should pay the designer, Dawn Simorangkir, for the clothes she designed, Love took to Twitter with her anger. She posted allegedly insulting and false comments about the designer, i.e. that she had a “history of dealing cocaine.” (Love’s Twitter account is now disabled.)

The CNN article cites several other similar cases that don’t involve celebrities but do involve social media. Read the article in full to learn more.

As a college-educated journalist who has taken intense communications law classes, I know the designer will have to prove a few things to win her case, including that Love’s statements are, in fact, false and that they caused damage to her reputation and/or business.

But should Tweets, status updates and statements made in Youtube videos or blogs be liable for a libel or slander lawsuit? I think everyone—journalist, public figure or otherwise—is responsible for the statements he or she makes. If you make a potentially damaging statement in a public way, you better be able to prove it’s true. Otherwise, like Love, you may be swimming in court fees and by-the-hour law firm bills.

Thoughts? Hit me with them!

Alyson (Follow me @alyandthecity) Social Media Marketing

Twitter users are using Twitter terms. Tweet is a popular
verb. Twitter is a common noun. They’re used in their Tweets but also in
everyday speak. But just because a Twit is using the lingo doesn’t mean he or
she is using it correctly.

I’ve created a collection of Twitter words and their
definitions to help make the Twitter lingo illiterate more able to walk the
walk and talk the talk.

(list compiled with assistance from Twittonary and Twictionary)

• co-twitterer:
  a partner that tweets on your Twitter account

• dweet:
  tweet sent while intoxicated

• mistweet:
  a tweet in which one later regrets

• politweet:
  a political tweet

• twaffic:
  Twitter traffic

• twalking:
  walking while twittering via text

• twead:
  to read a tweet from a fellow twitterer

• tweeple:
  Twitter people, Twitter members, Twitter users

• tweeps:
  Twitter people that follow each other from one social media/network to
  another

• tweetaholic:
  someone addicted to Twitter, so much so that it may be an actual problem

• tweeter:
  a user of Twitter

• tweeterboxes:
  twitterers who tweet too much

• tweetheart:
  that special tweeter who makes your heart skip a beat

• tweet(ing):
  the act of posting to Twitter

• tweets:
  posts on Twitter by twitterers

• tweetup:
  a Twitter meet-up

• twiking:
  biking while twittering via text

• twinkedIn:
  inviting friends made on Twitter to connect with you on LinkedIn

• twis:
  to diss a fellow twitterer; twitter burn

• twitosphere:
  community of twitterers

• twittastic:
  fantastic, wonderful, superb

• twittcrastination:
  procrastinating on Twitter

• twittectomy:
  an unfollowing of friends

• twitter
  stream: a collection of tweets

• twitosphere:
  the community of tweeple

• twitterati:
  celebrity twitterers

• twitterness:
  a person’s contribution to the twitosphere

• twitterlooing:
  twittering from a bathroom

• twitterage:
  rage at a twitter post.

• twitterrhea:
  the act of sending too many Twitter messages

Next time you hear a Twitterer use a Twitter term
incorrectly, hand them this list to aid in the twiteracy (Twitter literacy) of
the tweeple in the growing twitosphere. 
If we’re all on the same page, it reduces the risk of getting lost in
Twitlation.

Alyson (follow me @alyandthecity)

Social Media Marketing

Social Media Marketing helps fuel holiday spirit

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Bells are jingle
belling. Carolers are caroling. And inboxes are filling with Elf Yourself videos from bored friends.

If you’ve never received one of these videos, you’re missing
out. The Web site, created by OfficeMax , is a
silly, fun way to spread holiday cheer. All you have to do is upload photos of
your friends, family or pets, and Elf Yourself does the rest. You’ll have a
short video of grooving elves to share with your address book in no time!

And this year, Elf Yourself caught the social media spirit.
After your video is created, you can upload your video to your Facebook
(http://www.facebook.com) or Twitter (http://www.twitter.com> page, as well
as embed the video in your Web site or blog.

And Elf Yourself has made uploading photos easier this year,
adding an option to upload photos directly from your Facebook account. Doesn’t
get any easier than that!

Here’s an example: 

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Elf YOURself, and Tweet them to me (now that you can!)

Alyson (follow me @alyandthecity
<http://www.twitter.com/alyandthecity>)

Social Media Marketing

Think about this: How often do you watch video every day?

Video is all around us. We don’t even realize how often we
watch them. We’re watching videos so often, that Comscore reported in 2007 that “Americans viewed more than 7 billion video streams
online.”

And Youtube dominates the pack (as if that’s a surprise to anyone…).
Comscore stated: “YouTube.com drove the lion’s share of the video streaming
activity at the Google Sites property, with 53.5 million unique streamers and
1.1 billion streams initiated.”

It’s easy to respond skeptically. Many of the videos, especially
on Youtube, aren’t marketing a product or brand;
they’re just for fun.

But some companies have used video in such a great branding
method that others have copied. Case in point: Apple vs. T-Mobile.

When I saw the new T-Mobile MyTouch 3G commercial, I
immediately thought of the Apple iPhone commercials. The solid-color
background. The zoomed-in hands demonstrating the features of the phone. The
mellow music.

Of course, there are some differences. Well, you can take a look for yourself:

Apple iPhone commercial: 

T-Mobile MyTouch 3G commercial:

It seems obvious that T-Mobile at least modeled their touch
phone marketing Apple’s. It’s well-known that Apple’s marketing is famous,
whether in a good or bad way. Apple is known for creating a brand demonstrating
that you’re in the cool, modern crowd if you use their products. It’s less
about the quality of the product and more about the reputation the product
passes on to the consumer.

Much of this brand has been established through video. In
addition to the commercials, Apple products are used in many top TV shows.

The characters on NBC’s comedy “30 Rock” all use MacBooks, iPhones and iChat. Does Apple pay for the spotlight? The
show’s creator, Tina Fey, stated in the show’s earlier years that no product
placement deal is in place. The use of the Apple products is simply a
reflection of real life in the entertainment business. (Whether that situation
has changed over the years hasn’t been discussed, but the show continues to use
the products in plentiful amounts.)

Whether the feature is purposeful product placement or not,
the power of video is still demonstrated. Consumers see their favorite characters or actors using the
products and hear them talking
about them, and they want to as well. Seeing and hearing is something that can
occur on no other medium.

Video can even be used to express grievances. Case in point:
Verizon’s new anti-Apple commercial. The
commercial uses the signature solid-color background and mellow music, in
addition to the signature lower-case ‘i’ Apple is known for. Although the video
is critical, it still contributes to Apple’s marketing because the Apple branding
is used, critical or otherwise.

Summary of today’s lesson: Video is all around us. It is
used to brand. It is used to copy. It is used to criticize. It is used to
demonstrate how to be hip, modern and cool in a manner no other medium can
provide. 

How do you use video to market your product?

Alyson (follow me @alyandthecity) | Social Media Marketing

It’s official, kids. Social media has officially invaded
popular culture.

Last Thursday, the highly anticipated, hour-long wedding
episode of “The Office” aired. As an
avid “Office” fan, I was pumped. I laughed. I cried. I decided my next goal in
life is to find myself my own Jim Halpert.

The end of the episode came around, and I was happy with
what had happened so far. And then, it happened. Some crazy hand signals
occurred, Dwight plugged in an iPod, and I knew what was coming — a spoof of the JK wedding entrance dance YouTube sensation.

(Here’s the original video, if you have been living under a
rock and haven’t seen it.) 

Was I watching a sketch comedy show? Nope. “The Office” is
definitely a sitcom. Was I watching a Youtube spoof of another Youtube video?
No, not that either. There’s only one explanation: Social media is so engrained
in our society that it’s being written into popular TV shows. A Youtube
sensation is now part of a script, and the viewers recognized exactly where the
spoof came from when Michael, Dwight, Kelly and the rest of the gang started
dancing down the aisle.

This occurrence is further proof that social media is here
to stay. Some people may still not understand the full impact or the best way
to use social media outlets, but it’s officially a part of our culture.

What other examples have you found of the amazing social
impact of social media? Have any of your favorite TV shows integrated Youtube
or other social media outlets into their plotlines? As always, please share!

Alyson (follow me @alyandthecity
<http://www.twitter.com/alyandthecity)

  | Social Media Marketing

Do you have iPhone applications catered to where you live?
Indianapolis does! 

And it’s my recent amazing discovery in the world of Apple.

I became interested after a friend told me about a new app
called myIndianapolis. It’s an app for people who live in the Circle City or
just love it for all it has to offer! Here’s what you can do on the app:

• Share comments and photos of your city for others to see. You will also see
  comments/photos posted by other users.
• Tag a map of your city with your favorite places and recommendations for
  others. Your tags will be seen by other users, and you'll see all tags from
  other users.
• View city news and information.
• Check out fun facts about Indianapolis.
• Access the Indianapolis city Web site

When I went to the iTunes store, I decided to check out all
the apps about Indianapolis. Look what I found:

Get your up-to-the-minute news from one of our local TV
stations. Find out if it’s going to rain on your business lunch you planned to
have outdoors. And, of course, keep up with your favorite NFL team. (People hear are a new level of loyal to the
Colts!

Even if you don’t live in a given city, look up a city
you’re visiting or interested in learning more about and download the apps you
find helpful. I’ve lived in Indianapolis for several years now and still don’t know everywhere to go and everything to do.
These apps can be extremely helpful for everyone from the first-time visitor to
born-and-raised resident.

What apps are available for your hometown?

 Alyson (follow me @alyandthecity | Social Media Marketing