Spreets removes skinny image used in ‘Like slim?’ promotion
Group buying site Spreets has removed an image of an exceptionally skinny model it was using to promote a weight loss product. Many of those criticising the image – whose complaints have been deleted from the brand’s Facebook page – suggested that the image had been heavily Photoshopped to make the model appear thinner.
The criticisms challenged the authenticity of the image, questioning whether the product – which offers a ten day pack of “fat burning capsules” would work and too Spreets to task over its image choice. Spreets said that it had not deliberately removed the comments.
Comments deleted from the Spreets Facebook page
The Facebook post was removed and replaced with another image featuring a toned female stomach wrapped in a tape measure. It did not directly acknowledge the criticism which had appeared on the previous post, simply saying: “Hi guys, thanks for your feedback”.
The promotion is no longer headed “Like slim?”.
Spreets is the latest in a long run of brands to fall foul of a social media backlash in recent weeks. Deleting criticism is often seen as the wrong approach in social media. The removal of criticism from a grieving mother on the Seven News Facebook page took the network into a worst PR problem than it was already having.
The new Spreets image:
A spokesperson for Yahoo!7, which owns Spreets, told Mumbrella” When we got feedback from the Facebook community that the image was inappropriate we acted and took it down. Because it was posted as a photo, the comments were attached to it to and came down too. We did not purposefully remove them.”
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Another boring Facebook non-scandal – yay.
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Naturally skinny – yes! Heavily Photoshopped – not really!
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Wow. As scandals go, this is reaching.
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Social media. Just do it.
It’ll be fine.
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What is so wrong with being skinny/slim anyway? Ah that’s right – you’re not a ‘Real Woman’ by Australian Joe Public standards.
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I think the new algorithm on Facebook is definitely causing havoc with brands and the amplifying the publication of mainly disgruntled comments. Over the last couple of weeks, I have noticed that my Facebook feed is being constantly filled with complaints. These complaints are then “liked” by many and end up as major stories in mainstream media.
I tend to agree with some of the things that people are complaining about. But I would never invest time to write an email and complain about these issues, as I don’t feel passionate enough to make a big deal about the trashy clothes or the skinny images. But it takes no time at all to “like” a statement to give the nod that I disagree with something. I think for this reason, the number of likes is not exactly a true indication of the reflection of the target markets attitudes towards the brand/post.
I think it will be interesting to see how brands react to this new change to Facebook, I can see a lot of brands potentially questioning their presence on Facebook and whether or not it is worth investing the time and energy when an image or comment can manifest into the biggest PR disaster a company has seen!
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Everyone has an opinion. Doesn’t mean its worth listening to.
Facebook’s an awful place for morons to crap on about “what they reckon”. I’m so bored of it.
Eventually the only thing you’ll be able to post is sickeningly cute photos of kittens.
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Ha! Just realised the irony of my post. What a paradox.
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So they listened to their fans and used a different photo How is this even news? Yawn
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