With the advent of social media I've noticed a trend that disturbs me. Nursing media stars are pushing products, but there is no disclosure of remuneration. When I asked one, I was told that they were an ambassador for the product but they wouldn't say if they were getting paid to push the product. You see multiple social media posts out there on a product. When other media personalities shill products you see "in fine print usually" a statement about them being paid.
I've seen this for scrubs, nursing magazines and a few other products. I don't mind people making money. I would be if I could, but I don't have an entrepreneurial bone in my body, but I would like to know if people pushing a product are using their fame and getting paid. Puts a different light on a product.
So my question is, what are your thoughts on the ethics of this.
I don't post often on the boards, I'm usually just a lurker, but I have a question that sort of piggybacks what the OP is asking (I think). I "think" the OP is referring to Youtubers who are nurses and/or nursing students who have a following and put out videos about their experiences and some of them review products as well. While I think it is nice to have a resource of sorts like YT for people to be able to hear others experiences, I'm wondering if this whole trend is frowned on by the nursing schools/communities. I just went to my nursing school orientation and they were VERY specific about how you really want to monitor your online presence, etc., which makes me nervous to have any sort of online ANYTHING. Yet, there is a whole slew of nursing students posting about their experiences, etc., on YT complete with their whole names and some doing practice NCLEX questions and selling drug cards/note taking stuff on Etsy. This is kind of scary I would think. Thoughts?
I don't post often on the boards, I'm usually just a lurker, but I have a question that sort of piggybacks what the OP is asking (I think). I "think" the OP is referring to Youtubers who are nurses and/or nursing students who have a following and put out videos about their experiences and some of them review products as well. While I think it is nice to have a resource of sorts like YT for people to be able to hear others experiences, I'm wondering if this whole trend is frowned on by the nursing schools/communities. I just went to my nursing school orientation and they were VERY specific about how you really want to monitor your online presence, etc., which makes me nervous to have any sort of online ANYTHING. Yet, there is a whole slew of nursing students posting about their experiences, etc., on YT complete with their whole names and some doing practice NCLEX questions and selling drug cards/note taking stuff on Etsy. This is kind of scary I would think. Thoughts?
I suspect this is the kind of thing that the OP is referring to, along with the fact that blogging often contains links to various products, services, and other links.
It is the nature of social media and user-created content on the web. Just as any "nursing star" could always say to a friend, "boy I love Brand X scrubs because they have great pockets / I like the way the pants hang / whatever." It's just the same kind of communication, in a social media format. They could possibly be compensated somehow for their "endorsement" -- if they can demonstrate to the manufacturer/seller that they have xxx number of "followers". This is the same structure that has always existed for media advertising. Or ... Blogger might just simply like the product, and be telling you about it, in the stream of consciousness communication style that passes for media these days.
Bad day at work for me yesterday -- I'm off to contemplate my alternative future as a Nursing Media Star, now that we've established that as a job title.
The names kind of DO matter. Who are these nursing stars? I want to know if I should be idolizing them!! Seriously though, I've NEVER heard the term you're using here----are you the proud inventor? Credit where credit is due if so!!
It really doesn't matter the names. It is something that has been going on for a bit now. The term Ambassador has been getting passed around for a couple of years. The first I noticed was for Scrubs magazine. Now that Social Media is allowing for nurses to be in spotlight and have a following like never before, I was just wondering if this was something that needed discussion.
I'm guilty of not stating that I had no connection or was getting no money when I recumbent certain pieces of software on my blog. I posted recently a list of apps on my iPhone.
If a popular nurse was to say buy product A, It's the cat's meow, I'd like to know if they were getting money. Even if they really liked the product. I'm not questioning their sincerity, and everyone has the right to make whatever $$ they can. I think it's called capitalism. :)
Like a previous poster, I'm a cynic and assume that they are getting money and make my judgments. But I'm old and have been around the block a few times. Do younger/"gullible" nurses need th courtesy of a declaration of paid advertising?
Specializes in MCH,NICU,NNsy,Educ,Village Nursing.
"I don't think there need to be additional (or any) disclaimers if someone is being paid or not being paid; if I see them smiling from a magazine or website I have to assume there is SOME kind of compensation being offered in exchange for the endorsement. More of a common sense thing, IMHO, but that's how I see it."
RNsRWe, I assumed they were actors/actresses if they are smiling from a magazine or website....like the commercials that used to have the guy saying: "I'm not a real doctor, I just play one on TV." (Maybe they still say that but I haven't watched real TV and commercials in too long to remember!).
Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency, Education, Informatics.
No it's not a homework question.
It's about nurses who are "famous" on social media and/or TV. Bloggers, writers, nurses who have a following on social media. NOT fake nurses on a fictional TV show.
If a nurse is shilling a product on social media, i.e. scrubs shoes, whatever, and his or her followers fun to their nearest store and buy a pair to be like that nurse. Should there be some disclaimer saying if they got paid to advertise it or not.
It's not like the old days, advertising is different than in the Mad Men days. Getting on twitter, Facebook, posting a youtube video telling are all ways to market a product.
Again, would you please name some of these famous REAL nurses?
No it's not a homework question.
It's about nurses who are "famous" on social media and/or TV. Bloggers, writers, nurses who have a following on social media. NOT fake nurses on a fictional TV show.
If a nurse is shilling a product on social media, i.e. scrubs shoes, whatever, and his or her followers fun to their nearest store and buy a pair to be like that nurse. Should there be some disclaimer saying if they got paid to advertise it or not.
It's not like the old days, advertising is different than in the Mad Men days. Getting on twitter, Facebook, posting a youtube video telling are all ways to market a product.
It's not like the old days, advertising is different than in the Mad Men days. Getting on twitter, Facebook, posting a youtube video telling are all ways to market a product.
But can it really be true that anyone with it enough to be navigating the Internet doesn't understand that reviews, testimonials, recommendations, etc., on blogs, YouTube videos, etc., are basically commercials?? I find that hard to believe.
Farawyn
12,646 Posts
Colleen MacMurphy. Or maybe McMurphy?
China Beach.