I recently came across this blog post from Gemma Thompson of Social Media Illumination where she explains that a Solicitor friend of hers has raised concerns that by naming individuals on your Facebook Fan of The Week status updates, you could be in breach of the Data Protection Act!
To be honest, I don’t like this trend for naming people for doing nothing more than liking or commenting on posts… to me it feels like you’ve got nothing interesting to say so you resort to making a public announcement that someone has clicked the like button on your page!
It brings an image to my mind of going into Primark and spending £1 on a pair of socks only to hear the DING DONG of the store tannoy as you leave the till…
“THANK YOU VERONICA PULLEN FOR VISITING OUR STORE TODAY AND SPENDING £1 OF YOUR MONEY WITH US!”
I mean, come on?! I’m not averse to a bit of attention but buying a £1 pair of socks in no way warrants that kind of attention does it?!
I can’t see that liking your Facebook Page or posting a few comments justifies the attention of being named as a Fan of The Week either?
Having someone like your page is a low rate activity. It doesn’t justify the huge announcement you’re making to all your other fans and is a bit “LOOK AT ME! I’VE GOT A FAN!”
So?! I have too! Now tell me something interesting… what’s the weather like?!
Seriously?! That’s all you’ve got to tell me? I’ve liked your page and in return I get to read that someone has liked or commented on your page and it’s raining?! Now… where’s that unlike button?
Anyway, I’m digressing. This potential breach of the Data Protection Act is a serious concern. You don’t want to risk receiving a huge fine as well as boring your fans so I’d recommend you read Gemma’s blog post now HERE
This breach also leads me nicely back to the Facebook T&Cs for promotions and competitions on your Facebook Page too. One of the rules is that you cannot name competition winners in a status update so I can’t really see the difference between that and announcing new likers?
So many Page Admins are breaching these T&Cs and I’ve got to tell you… if Facebook discover the breach your Page will be removed without notice or recourse!
Don’t risk losing everything you’ve been building by unwittingly breaking their rules. Check out the blog I wrote last year which links you back to the official Terms and Conditions too.
PS it’s raining here today! 🙂
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The whole Facebook Fan of the Week thing was an app that picked people at random, but thankfully it seems to have died down recently. You don’t have to announce a Fan of the Week at all, and there’s no tangible benefit to either party to do so in my view.
Why would you want to? What is the objective for doing so?
Great blog Ronnie… just one question. If you are not allowed to announce a winner of a competition how will people know if you are being fair and actually choosing one? Are you supposed to say “we have a winner’ and then drop it?
Haha! You are funny 🙂 Your interesting posts make me spend money on new jewellery!
Its highly likely that the DPA breach is down to interpretation – if you come across the DPA’s comment again, pop the link in here. It’s great to get different perspectives
It’s gone very dark! Lol x
I believe I read the article you’re talking about and I think someone from the DPA did say some of the comments were a little misleading (hope you don’t mind me saying Gemma).
I have to say, I was guilty of doing the naming thing but it only lasted a few posts as as you say it’s a little boring. I do sometimes mention the weather too when it’s a little freakish but that’s because I love freaky weather, so sorry if I’m boring you Ms Pullen – hehe! However, I can say, I have lots of other interesting posts, if you pop over and like them I might just make you fan of the week 🙂 Hehe. Talking of which, I did try this app but it’s a load of old p@@ – it literally picks someone totally random! I know who regularly post son my wall and some of the people it picked I hadn’t even heard of!!
Anyway, thanks for your very to the point blog (as always) and look forward to your next read….perhaps it could be about the weather 🙂
Awww. No! Hehe
But you can have your image as my cover on the Social Media Prospector FB page… compromise? 🙂
If I comment on this post can I be your fan of the week? : )
Hey Gemma, thank you. I don’t think you need to worry that commenting on linked blogs is me, me, me but listen carefully to the customer service announcement next time you’re in Tesco!
That tin of value beans you just scanned could make you customer of the week! 🙂 x
Hi Veronica,
I don’t often comment publicly when people link back to my blog because I think that even that can look a little ‘look at me!’ but your post is so damn funny I have to praise you publicly for it!
And not just funny but bang on the money too!
Well done, great post, I hope it gets lots of reads and I will be sharing it … and putting you in my RSS reader so I stay up to date 🙂