USA Today article on new lows companies are stooping to to drum up sales, stocks

[JurisDoctorOfDoom]

Tapping into American's desperation for fame, however fleeting:

The price of fame has hit rock bottom.

Fifteen seconds of fame — via some very public social networking that puts your photo on a towering electronic billboard in New York's Times Square— soon can be yours for nothing more than buying a pair of socks. If, that is, you shop at the soon-to-open American Eagle store.

Tuesday, AE (AEO) will announce plans to turn the 25-story electronic billboard above its flagship store at one of the world's busiest intersections into a social-media icon. Anyone who buys something in the store beginning Nov. 19 can have their photo and a message posted on the billboard within 15 minutes of the purchase.

As the critical holiday shopping season kicks off, marketing is all about going viral. The chain will nudge customers to snap a photo that marks the moment and to share it with friends via Facebook, Twitter or any social media. Like all teen-targeting retailers, AE is pushing the marketing envelope to get teens to chat about the brand online.

Full article: http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/2009-11-02-american-eagle-times-square_N.htm

[dagrove22]

Their poor parents and friends that do not have the means to keep up with their peers.

[AntiSocialite]

Their poor parents and friends that do not have the means to keep up with their peers.

Heh. This may be the new definition of "poor." A person's ability to buy recognition via the web is being now being formalized. Influence is replacing plastic pumpkins as the new wealth. Instead of stone walls ensconcing landlords offering land, water, and food in return for labor, we have technorati offering the influence/connections necessary for access to resources. All we have to give up in return is our treasure, labor, and/or liberty. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

[Hardondee]

I love it when people discuss "going viral".  Against the point, isn't it?

A lot of the marketing strategies for my products always involved some old-timer director spouting, "We have to make this viral.  We have to go viral.  YouTube.  Myspace.  Facebook.  Let's go viral."

[Alecia]

So strange. We're the most narcasstic society ever.

[Wishful]

And I guess there will not be any surprises under the Christmas tree if everyone and their brother can see what is being bought.

[gnosis]

So strange. We're the most narcasstic society ever.

Narcasstic (adjective):   A combination of narcissism and sarcastic. Example: the USA.

Sad but true.

[Timactionfigures]

Nothing "upbeat" about this at all. Fail.

Don't we have enough advertising in the world to broadcast how stupid people are?!