U.S. State Department spent $630,000 to ‘buy’ Facebook fans

[alp227]

By Agence France-Presse
Wednesday, July 3, 2013 17:31 EDT

The US State Department was Wednesday under fire for spending $630,000 over two years to win millions of “likes” on its Facebook pages at a time of severe government austerity measures.

A scathing report by the department’s independent watchdog took the coordinators of its social media outreach policy to task saying it needed to “direct its digital advertising to specific public diplomacy goals.”

The report by the Office of the Inspector General found that two advertising campaigns launched in 2011 and 2012 cost some $630,000 with the “goal of building global outreach platforms for engagement with foreign audiences by increasing the number of fans… on four thematic Facebook properties.”

“Many in the bureau criticize the advertising campaigns as ‘buying fans’ who may have once clicked on a post or ‘liked’ a photo but have no real interest in the topic and have never engaged further,” read the report released late last month.

full: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/07/03/u-s-state-department-spent-630000-to-buy-facebook-fans/

[think]

1. Buying fake friends. Thought only Rmoney stooped that low....

[LiberalFighter]

2. How is that really different than pr to put one in a good light?

I'm wondering if the Inspector General was qualified to analyze the effectiveness of the campaign. Those within the "bureau" likely are not as too many are probably my age or older. The question should be whether the campaign was effective and made a contact that would be lasting even if it was just once. If it becomes a positive change in their mind it might be worth it.

[Bonhomme Richard]

3. It seems a legitimate thing for the State Department to do but...

that's me.
File under propaganda yes but I get it. Public relations. Oh yeah, I won't even mention how much money Romney spent to get fake likes on FB.
What I want to know is how much the government spends to propagandize me.

[galileoreloaded]

10. u are so cute :) nt

[Enrique]

4. it could be legitimate

and $630,000 is nothing.

Whoever wrote the report might have specific problem with the expenditure, that's fine, but this is one of those stories that gets blown out of proportion.

[Rex]

5. Sure it is.

Everything that the feds do is okay. Anyone that says otherwise, is a commie!

[RobertEarl]

9. That's the right way to look at it, Rex

Anybody who complains should just realize the NSA is gonna be their next new 'Best Friend Forever'.

Pretty soon we'll have all the rabble rousers grouped up where just few clicks can rid us of all subversives! YeeeHaaa!!!

[Lurks Often]

6. How about putting that $630,000 into local foodbanks instead

that would seem to be a far more productive use for it.

[Downwinder]

7. +1

[GoneFishin]

8. +1

[gopiscrap]

12. welcome to DU