Submission + - LiveJournal introduces "Sponsored Content"
piphil writes: "LiveJournal.com have just announced via their Business Discussions journal that they are introducing "sponsored communities and features". This has lead to an outcry from those who watch this community, who accuse LiveJournal.com of starting on the "slippery slope" towards advertising being placed on users' journals, some of whome already pay for the privelege of not having to see ads on the site.
Interestingly, a few years ago (pre LiveJournal's take over by SixApart.com), LiveJournal's management released a "Social Contract", which stated LiveJournal would "Stay advertisement free". Unfortunately it is impossible to link to this page at LiveJournal, as it has been silently and mysteriously deleted. However, as they say, the internet never forgets, and thus a copy of the document is available here.
The user outcry has been so far limited to those who actively watch the lj_biz community. However, users are using their own "viral marketing" techniques to spread the word across the user base. Many are worried about a MySpace.com descent into user-targeted advertising.
All this comes after the user-base resisted introduction of advert-supported user accounts, which swapped paying for extra features for seeing "targetted" banner adverts on the site.
These event raises the pricky issue of user rights on such websites, and the validity of "user contracts" when such documentation seems to be changed at will by the provider with no subsequent compensation to effected users."
Interestingly, a few years ago (pre LiveJournal's take over by SixApart.com), LiveJournal's management released a "Social Contract", which stated LiveJournal would "Stay advertisement free". Unfortunately it is impossible to link to this page at LiveJournal, as it has been silently and mysteriously deleted. However, as they say, the internet never forgets, and thus a copy of the document is available here.
The user outcry has been so far limited to those who actively watch the lj_biz community. However, users are using their own "viral marketing" techniques to spread the word across the user base. Many are worried about a MySpace.com descent into user-targeted advertising.
All this comes after the user-base resisted introduction of advert-supported user accounts, which swapped paying for extra features for seeing "targetted" banner adverts on the site.
These event raises the pricky issue of user rights on such websites, and the validity of "user contracts" when such documentation seems to be changed at will by the provider with no subsequent compensation to effected users."
