This blogger likes the FTC's new regulations

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From Fast Company: FTC Sticks to Its Regulations as Blogger Backlash Builds

Today, the Federal Trade Commission responded to an "open letter" from online advertisers that asked for the commission's newly updated guidelines to be scrapped because they purportedly "muzzle social media" and, thus, inhibit the freeflow of ideas.

This blogger isn't the least bit offended by the FTC's new regulations guidelines. Articles (and letters) that pretend to speak for the 15.5 million bloggers as if we were united in a single voice annoy me. The FTC's new regulation guidelines mandate transparency. Some of us think this is a hell of a good idea. If you have nothing to hide then there's not a single thing in these regulations guidelines to concern you.

Is it a bad thing that the FTC isn't treating all media the same? Probably. This reminds me of when my teenage children would ask to go to a party. We as parents would do our requisite due-diligence, and when the situation warranted we'd say no. Then we'd get, "But, everyone else is going." And this is supposed to matter? Who gives a crap about the others-- we need to focus on keeping our own house in order.

It's a shame that this has to be regulated. It's also a shame that some people are unethical. Most of us are smart enough to see right through the purchased blog posts, but many of us are not. I'm thinking honesty in our writing makes a lot of sense. I'm one who thinks it's time that the unethical among us come clean. If it requires government regulation-- so be it. I hardly consider this a threat to free speech.

In the interest of transparency I must declare that I take nothin from no-one.