Ford to Honda: Hey, Wait Up!

by Steph Willems

Published: June 29th, 2020

On the same day that it encouraged fans to follow it on Instagram for sexy Bronco teasing, Ford Motor Company announced it will pull advertising from all social media platforms for a period of 30 days.

As you read here roughly nine minutes ago, Ford’s move comes after Honda did exactly the same. The automakers, among a number of other companies, aim to pressure big social media companies to root out and erase or ban hate speech — which can be a very nebulous term, depending on who’s using it.

That, of course, is a discussion for another time and place (and website). After going on Twitter to inform would-be Bronco owners that they’ll be able to place orders on July 13th, Ford implied that it had had enough of social media’s ability to disseminate hateful viewpoints, and would cease advertising immediately.

Per Reuters, Ford said it will use the month-long pause to take a second look at its social media presence, adding that hate speech and racism on such platforms “needs to be eradicated.”

Ours surely wasn’t the only head being scratched after this announcement, what with the company’s flood of social media marketing efforts today. So, if a social media user isn’t directly being advertised to, it’s sin-free to visit this page? Despite pressure to adopt the latest tactic in the ongoing protests over police aggression, racist violence, hate, statues of literally every background and meaning, and seemingly everything else, automakers aren’t likely to entirely stem the flow of images and information to prospective customers. Not when there’s a pandemic on and auto sales remain depressed.

It should be noted that the main focus of the current pressure effort is Facebook, where, as of 3 hours ago, you can get *extra* pumped about the Bronco. Of course, marketing isn’t necessarily advertising, even though they share body heat in the same bed.

[Image: Ford]

#Advertising #Ford #Marketing #SocialMedia

Steph Willems

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6 of 54 comments

Inside Looking Out on Jun 30, 2020

I always thought that freedom of speech in this country is guaranteed by constitution. It turns out that's not true (anymore). Now big corporations, billionaires and mob of rioting teenagers set the limits on free speech and introduces thought police. It may be the reason why the concepts of open society and liberal democracy is not popular anymore and developing countries (like Russia, Poland, Hungary and etc) turn away from western values. There was so much hope and good will in early 90s. All that now is gone.

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- Art Vandelay on Jun 30, 2020
  
  The 90's were the last great decade and by "the 90's" I mean the period from the wall falling to the day the towers fell.
  
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- Schmitt trigger on Jun 30, 2020
  
  @Art Vandelay Exactly! The period between the wet dream of "we vanquished the Evil Empire" to the cold, rude awakening that the Evil Empire had actually mutated. And I might add, into a more insidious strain.
  
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- Inside Looking Out on Jun 30, 2020
  
  @schmitt trigger You mean it got into the new host? Makes all the sense. Waiting for the sequel Cold War 2. Now American people vs themselves.
  
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- SnarkyRichard on Jun 30, 2020
  
  @Art Vandelay Yeah I miss the 90s . All that was missing was wide screen HD tv . Now that is here and people watch video on their tiny phones . The world has gone plum crazy .
  
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Dartdude on Jun 30, 2020

Time to hold all social and media accountable for what they print and say. Those that lied about russian collusion and never were held accountable.

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