Follow Newser on Twitter   Friend Newser on Facebook
Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

You Can't Say 'Facebook' or 'Twitter' on French TV

France regulator says it amounts to free advertising

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 3, 2011 6:39 PM CDT

(Newser) – Weird rule of the week: It is now against the law in France for broadcasters on TV or radio to mention "Facebook" or "Twitter" on the air, notes the This I Know blog. To be precise, they can mention them if they're doing news stories, and Facebook or Twitter are relevant to them. But they can't say things like, "Find us on Facebook" or "Follow us on Twitter." The nation's broadcast regulator views it as free advertising that is unfair to other social networks trying to compete.

"No, this is not a joke," writes an incredulous Matthew Fraser, who suspects this "regulatory lunacy" has more to do with the French chafing at yet another example of "Anglo-Saxon cultural domination" than with advertising fairness. Just imagine trying to watch, say, CNN with such a rule in place, adds Jennifer Moire at AllFacebook. "Social networking channels have become so integrated into network news programming that it’s fair to wonder whether the quality of news would suffer without them."

The Facebook logo. The word is no longer OK for French broadcasters.
The Facebook logo. The word is no longer OK for French broadcasters.   (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle, file)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
My TakeCLICK BELOW TO VOTE
46%
8%
4%
29%
2%
10%
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 9 comments
comodossl
Jun 6, 2011 2:36 AM CDT
In this case, both "Facebook" or "Tweets", they have a "user", with more comfort for its use, and many of those who use it. In order to provide a fast and accurate when made to support a person we look for other sources of information or the use of this service.
ifbit
Jun 6, 2011 2:23 AM CDT
I admire the French for this. Where the Germans relinquished their culture to play Little Brit and Little American, the French will never surrender.
LaughingMan
Jun 5, 2011 1:13 PM CDT
Good rule.

More Newser Stories

Women More Likely to Unfriend

Inside the Army's Rules for Twitter, Facebook

Reporters Try to Live on Twitter, Facebook Alone

11 Things You Need to Stop Doing on Twitter

Tech's Richest Hate Showing Off Wealth


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Timelines   |   Geek Sugar   |   Business Insider   |   HuffPost Entertainment