Viral Marketing
Viral Marketing
The viral marketing (or buzzword marketing, word-of-mouth marketing etc.) is based on the self-transfer of a valuable piece of information through some social networks.
It is the same as meme mechanism in Dawkins’ theory. Is it ethical? It cannot be ethical or unethical as such. The main problem is that the content of this meme may be as true or false.
In the latter case viral marketing is always a bad thing.
Ericsson chain letter hoax
In April 2000 an email chain letter started circulating
Ericsson chain letter hoax
We may find Ericsson answer in FAQ page at their web-site:
5: Is it true that you are giving away mobile phones and laptops? Please give me Anna Swelungs e-mail address.
No, Ericsson is not giving away phones or laptops. The chain letter is a Fraud and has been circulating since April 2000. Anna Swelung does not exist at Ericsson. The legal and IT departments at Ericsson will trace the person who initiated the illegal chain letter. Ericsson is sorry for any inconvenience this might have caused and kindly ask people not to forward the chain mail further. http://www.ericsson.com/faq
How can we be sure that this is not true?
The question for discussion Viral Marketing: ethical code
1. Find in the web-site WOMMA (http://womma.org) the ethical code for viral marketing. What are the main principles of this code? Can you explain the rationality behind these principles?
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