Social media site Facebook says it is launching an investigation into an Australian marketing company’s plans to “sell” Facebook followers to clients and has warned that users who participate could be violating Facebook policies.
uSocial, an advertising and marketing firm run by Leon Hill, announced yesterday that it would “sell” Facebook followers at a basic rate of $197 for 1,000 friends.
Hill has made a name for himself selling Twitter followers and votes on social networking sites such as Digg – often against the wishes of the sites involved.
While Hill told IT News that he had received $4,000 worth of orders in the hours following his announcement, Facebook is very unimpressed with his scheme.
“We’re just beginning an investigation now but it’s clear to us that potential customers of their service should be cautious,” a Facebook spokesperson said.
A number of social media experts warned yesterday that SMEs should be very careful about buying friends and said social media community’s hold transparency and honesty dear.
Facebook was quick to deliver a similar warning.
“The value of a person that is tricked, coerced or bribed into being a Facebook friend or fan is extremely limited and may actually work against whatever goals the customer is attempting to achieve.”
The site has also warned that users who agree to participate and follow a company suggested by uSocial could be kicked off the site.
Condition 4.2 of Facebook’s terms and conditions state: “You will not use your personal profile for your own commercial gain (such as selling your status update to an advertiser)”.
The spokesperson says: “If we find that Facebook users are violating our policies by participating, their account is at risk of being permanently disabled.”
James was the editor and publisher of SmartCompany and LeadingCompany for five years. He is now the Australian Financial Review‘s companies & markets editor, and a former BRW editor.
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