Is Word of Mouth Bad for Kids?

February 10, 2005

Interesting follow-up to my post yesterday about word of mouth marketing.

I had commented on an interesting�release from the Word of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA), announcing a new set of ethical standards. Today, this announcement critical of WOMMA appeared:

National Institute on Media and the Family: Word of Mouth Marketing Association's Code of Ethics Neglects Parental Involvement

The Institute's statement in part says this:

"By recruiting minors for online viral advertising campaigns, marketers sometimes expose them and their friends to sexually explicit information, age inappropriate language, sexual images and even open the virtual door to predatory adults who use the Internet to stalk children."

Ouch! The National Institute on Media and the Family�describes itself as�"an independent non-partisan, non-sectarian, nonprofit organization."

AB -- 2/20/05

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