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I'm noticing a lot of celebrities are advertising the Switch now
- Thread starter nhlducks35
- Start date
kitchenmotors
Banned
Lol at the people thinking its paid. Weeknd is a gamer.
Guarantee if a thread was made with these photos, there wouldn't even be an issue that's currently being brought up.
TheLegendOfCap
Member
Alright i still think he was sent one for free, with no obligations but i also found this from December
The Weeknd spent some time off playing Mario Kart.
So yeah, i think Nintendo knew what they were doing in sending him a free one.
The Weeknd spent some time off playing Mario Kart.
So yeah, i think Nintendo knew what they were doing in sending him a free one.
Him being a gamer doesn't make it not payed man. You pay influencers who can influence potential customers.
pretty done
Member
Maybe they just like the Switch
I've thought all of Nintendo's hardware since after the GBA and GCN have been trash but the Switch is a massive step up. It's actually really nice. And Mario Kart has always been huge.
I've thought all of Nintendo's hardware since after the GBA and GCN have been trash but the Switch is a massive step up. It's actually really nice. And Mario Kart has always been huge.
kitchenmotors
Banned
Bronetta
Ask me about the moon landing or the temperature at which jet fuel burns. You may be surprised at what you learn.
Its also possible that a person known to like video games is just showing a video game he likes.
Unless you have explicit proof its a paid endorsement.
I'm not saying I think it is; I just think there's no had proof it isn't.
I do agree the burden of the proof would be on #TeamAd legally though.
kitchenmotors
Banned
Darryl M R
Member
Why is your default assumption that a celebrity that is experienced with product placement is not participating in such a marketing tactic?
I can fully believe that these celebrities enjoy the Switch, just like I can assume that some people enjoy Beats by Dr Dre, but why is your assumption that it is an organic post that is not influenced by Nintendo?
I can be wrong, and I'm okay with that outcome (thought my point of view is that they did not buy the Switches and signed some deal to do a social media push--no other obligations), but it is interesting how you give celebrities the benefit of the doubt instead of looking at them with a critical eye when products are shown.
I do not believe it makes sense to give trust to celebrities, brands, or companies until they have shown a history of clear intentions.
Seems like Sony has been in hot water with FTC before https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/pre...rders-related-false-advertising-sony-computer
So I guess they do investigate these things.
So I guess they do investigate these things.
Skittzo0413
Member
As others have said there are typically guidelines for posting advertisements where you need to clearly indicate it's an advertisement. Whether or not people follow those guidelines is a different story.
Also the fact that the post talks about "shit talkin" and doesn't mention the word Nintendo or Switch once, should suggest it's not a paid ad.
GlamFM
Banned
Can only speak for they German market.
Right now it's not regulated at all.
We pay influencers left and right for mentioning a shampoo or whatever in a snap or tweet.
YouTube is pushing some rules now, but influencer marketing is still the Wild West right now.
So a musician that travels and already owns other systems won't buy a switch because? What makes the switch so different that they wouldn't buy one and talk about it on their own? Or are we at a point where celebrities don't like anything unless paid?
oneils
Member
Awesome, thanks for the reply. Even with talk of guidelines in North America, it seems like the Wild West here too.
JeTmAn81
Member
What about MK DS then? Maybe the DS was never cool, though it's amazing for something with no hype to sell 150+ million units?
Darryl M R
Member
I think your comments are valid and logical but I do not know how clear it is when it comes to social media especially with this new domain of marketing being called "influencer marketing."
Your second post is an even stronger argument on why this case might not be product placement.
GlamFM
Banned
Buuuuuuuuurn!
FantasticMrFoxdie
Mumber
JeTmAn81
Member
Celebrities have connections, it's not hard to get all kinds of things, for free as well.
Darryl M R
Member
I think we are passed the point where we should question all celebrities when they post about a product. (Meaning question every product placement you see by a celebrity)
I don't think it is a hard concept to understand and within this thread people are mixing arguments. Just because someone believes that celebrities are purposefully making social media pushes for a product DOES NOT mean that the same celebrity is not a fan of the item.
But celebrities do not do most things for free. So you should always question why a product is being posted by someone with a mass influence.
Skittzo0413
Member
I mean it could certainly be a paid ad but I think it's pretty unlikely. It's very likely though that Nitnendo sent him a free Switch and was hoping he'd talk it up in social media. That type of thing isn't uncommon at all.
No one is saying that Nintendo isn't handing out free Switches to some celebrities, but there are rules about actual paid ads (again, whether or not the rules are followed is another question) and the post in the OP doesn't sound at all like an ad. The word Nintendo or Switch is not mentioned once. The John Mayer tweet may very well be an ad though it could be against FTC guidelines if so. But the Weekend's post looks nothing like an actual paid ad.
People not working in marketing are more confident about their wrong theories because they have no real life experiences that prove they're wrong otherwise.
kitchenmotors
Banned
Worth noting of course that you can't be sure that it was payd for, but in this day and age you should at least question it.
There are more obvious examples:
A photo like this is questionable, but the topic photo is really not. Abel is a gamer and likes Mario Kart.
There's some photos of him playing Mario Kart GP. Are people gonna starting telling me Nintendo paid him to take photos at an arcade while playing MK GP too?
I honestly carry it like that a lot. It's broken down in my bag when not in use, but when using and I need to walk between spots this is the default way I carry it.
FantasticMrFoxdie
Mumber
its clearly a hard concept for some people tho.
Proves my point. If you are a celebrity or a celebrity's assistant would you be camping on cheapass gamer or contact nintendo and say "hey i can't find any switches, send me 20 switches with a bunch of games and i'll tweet this from john mayers twitter"
Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule
Member
Or maybe he just likes Mario Kart
Darryl M R
Member
So I think we agree with each other essentially.
I think it is highly likely that Nintendo sent the Switch to them with the plan of a social media push. From your post it sounds like you assume Nintendo would leave it up to the person but I believe Nintendo contacted the celebrity's management team to ensure the post. Now with my POV it would be reasonable to expect a caption stating that it was a product placement (ad), but there is none. So that's why I'm very open to being wrong but I do not think the benefit of the doubt should be granted without discussing the possibility and past actions taken by someone that posts products.
I don't believe money was moved from Nintendo to any individual but I do believe Nintendo sent a good amount of Switches to ensure that it was a mutually beneficial deal.
Glass Shark
Banned
.
DarkConfidant
Member
There already was a thread. Folks thought it was cool.
This is one of those weird Nintendo conspiracy theories, like hardware shortages on popular products.
Mario Kart is one of those games ingrained into modern culture. Folks are going to play it. A lot of shit will be talked. Friendships will end.
Also, they have to hashtag "ad" on stuff now if it's paid content.
Or maybe he just likes Mario Kart
One day I'd like to try Mario Kart Arcade
Darryl M R
Member
Do you normally put blind trust into celebrities, brands, and corporations?
Because that is how I look at the situation. When you are a celebrity you are no longer viewed as an average individual. I don't know how you can argue otherwise.
LFMartins86
Member
Dark Ninja
Member
The Gamecube promotion was great. More consoles need handle's
FantasticMrFoxdie
Mumber
See well that makes more sense.
but i'll side with the arguement that the one in the OP is an "ad". Looking at the rest of the WKNDs instagram its all professionally-done curated photos and posts promoting himself. Then out of nowhere its a TV with MK8. ¯\_(ツ
_/¯ Alas, i dont think anyone here can prove any side these points so lets celebrate Switches!
oneils
Member
Only in the US as far as I know, and the weeknd is Canadian.
Edit: and does anyone have a real world example of this new FTC guideline being enforced? I'm assuming they go after the sponsor rather than the "sponsee" (is that a word lol?). I though I remember an article on it but can't find it.
Oh wow: found this https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/pre...-ftc-charges-it-failed-adequately-disclose-it
Looks like FTC is not messing around.
CharminUltra
Member
It's because the Switch is glorious.
SinCityAssassin
Member
Clearly paid by CNET.
But no seriously why is he holding it so close to the screen. Like that's single joycon co-op. you're blocking the screen for the other guy too, what a cheater.