News: DroidDoes Astroturfing?

chris · 10-19-2009, 07:04 PM

Over the weekend, Verizon and Motorola launched a new advertising campaign that directly attacks the iPhone. The music in the commercial could easily be mistaken for an Apple campaign and then scrolls a list that basically attacks the iPhone. “iDon’t have a real keyboard” and others read like a bullet list for Verizon sales reps who have been dealing with customers leaving for the iPhone. The campaign itself has created some buzz and Motorola’s Droid that will be available on Verizon certainly appears to be the best Android phone to date and possibly a phone that might generate some interest. I’m certainly looking forward to test drive it. In addition to the commercials that are running, we’re thinking someone related to this anti-iPhone campaign might be involved in generating fake buzz or as it’s called astroturfing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPYM-XTqcec

Our iPhone forums often include discussion of other phones and it’s certainly encouraged. For Apple to continue innovating, they need the pressures of real competition. Innovation doesn’t start and end in Cupertino. We do however frown upon posts that are disingenuous. Every now and again, these will show up in the form of an accessory or developer who pose as an end user. This practice is even worse when it’s done by someone on behalf of a manufacturer or wireless carrier. Now, we don’t have any solid proof, so we’ll leave up to you our readers. We just found it odd to see this post regarding DroidDoes showing up both in our forums and in Apple’s forums. Advocate of Android or fake buzz? What say you?

kdarling · 10-20-2009, 11:59 PM

Does it matter in this case? Seems like a non-issue.

The ad was big news. Many forums are discussing it.

So there'll be links to the video, no matter who posts it, be they astroturfer or forum moderator, or just someone who thought it was interesting and posted it all over.

Cheers - Kev

Watcher · 10-21-2009, 06:56 AM

iDon't want my phone to have "Verizon" plastered all over it like it's a billboard or advertising campaign.

iDon't want a phone with bloatware from the carrier that's forced upon me.

iDon't want a phone tied to the CDMA network unlike most of the world.

chris · 10-21-2009, 09:06 AM

Originally Posted by kdarling

Does it matter in this case? Seems like a non-issue.

The ad was big news. Many forums are discussing it.

So there'll be links to the video, no matter who posts it, be they astroturfer or forum moderator, or just someone who thought it was interesting and posted it all over.

Cheers - Kev

We'd already been talking about it here and will likely see a number of threads on Droid when it lands. I don't think they need to be concerned with artificially creating buzz. The ads themselves did a good job of just that. Now it's up to the device.

Is it possible that it's just an unsuspecting customer? Sure, but it has all the tell tale signs of being someone who is likely charged with generating social buzz.

chris · 10-21-2009, 09:22 AM

Here's an article on ABC News. Now, it was likely pitched by some PR person. Isn't curious that it follows the same talking point?

New ad campaign
Features a keyboard, iPhone doesn't
TechCrunch quote

Same messaging.

kdarling · 10-21-2009, 09:45 AM

Originally Posted by chris

Is it possible that it's just an unsuspecting customer? Sure, but it has all the tell tale signs of being someone who is likely charged with generating social buzz.

Okay. I guess I still don't understand the question or concern.

I've been online for over 30 years, including as forum administrator, and it seems that recently everyone's gotten paranoid that any mention of competition is an evil plot. (My personal pet peeve is when people, especially newbies, start yelling "troll" when they can't think of any other intelligent response.)

It could simply be that people tend to blindly copy & paste news articles, and that laziness does make postings look very similar across all forums.

But sure, if you think the post is from someone commercially motivated, then delete it and replace it with a video link from a regular or yourself.

Just my two cents. Regards!

chris · 10-21-2009, 10:13 AM

Originally Posted by kdarling

Okay. I guess I still don't understand the question or concern.

I've been online for over 30 years, including as forum administrator, and it seems that recently everyone's gotten paranoid that any mention of competition is an evil plot. (My personal pet peeve is when people, especially newbies, start yelling "troll" when they can't think of any other intelligent response.)

It could simply be that people tend to blindly copy & paste news articles, and that laziness does make postings look very similar across all forums.

But sure, if you think the post is from someone commercially motivated, then delete it and replace it with a video link from a regular or yourself.

Just my two cents. Regards!

No one is more open to discussion of various phones that myself. It drives me nuts when people in my forums feel they are the troll police. It's natural for someone to join to get feedback on why they should select one phone over another. I'm probably sensitive to it since I'm a multi-phone user and don't play favorites.

I have a great relationship with Motorola and I'll probably be on their list to review the Droid.

Am I overly sensitive and possibly off-base? Maybe. It's certainly not going to change my positive opinion of Motorola as a company. If this was astroturfing, it's likely done by some low-level PR/buzz company.

Motorola always been very supportive of EverythingQ and that's not always the case when it comes to manufacturers. In fact, sometimes it's the opposite.

I'm looking forward to checking out Droid.

Eragon · 10-21-2009, 10:58 AM

Originally Posted by chris

We just found it odd to see this post regarding DroidDoes showing up both in our forums and in Apple’s forums. Advocate of Android or fake buzz? What say you?

Interesting how someone with only one post has been able to generate such a heated thread. Back in June, someone posted over in the iPhone forums of Crackberry.com supposed insider information about a VZW iPhone. It generated a lot of buzz until it was revealed that the poster was a phony.

I find it mean and inappropriate to start threads merely for the purpose of pulling people's chains. It happens, and we have to be on the lookout to avoid.

VZW partnership with Google has the potential to be big. Possibly larger than Palm. I think it's appropriate to have some general discussion here at EIC especially as it relates to a real iPhone challenger. Specific hardware discussions should be deferred to the sister sites.

Funny how there is no VZW thread (attack or Android phone) at everything android. Been thinking of starting one, though.

chris · 10-21-2009, 11:10 AM

Originally Posted by Eragon

Funny how there is no VZW thread (attack or Android phone) at everything android. Been thinking of starting one, though.

That would require an active community or at the very least an active admin.

Time to start paying more attention to that site. This one obviously gets the bulk of my time.

BrownGem · 10-21-2009, 12:29 PM

I am interested in great technology period. Nothing wrong with discussing other devices here as forum members often bring up discussions on new things. Comparisons are inevitable as the iPhone is an incredible device and we all know there are things it can't do but EVERY new device is compared to the iPhone. That is a good thing as companies strive to make better, faster, and more powerful phones. We all win. Real discussion is great....baiting is silly and a waste of time. Generating social buzz causes no harm imho if it sparks genuine conversation.