On June 26, 2025, Elon Musk posted on X: “Starting tomorrow, the esthetic nightmare that is hashtags will be banned from ads on X.” Below that post, one user asked Musk’s AI chatbot Grok whether it recommends using hashtags...more
Every day, thousands of people are turning to podcasting as a way to grow their businesses, make new connections, and gain exposure. A recent survey by Techsurvey found that 33% of Americans are listening to podcasts at least...more
Shining a metaphorical light on claims about solar panels, the office of New Jersey State Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal has entered into a consent order compelling a company accused of deceptive advertising its solar...more
When the first social media hashtag was used in 2007, users had no idea how ubiquitous hashtags would become. Today, hashtags are an essential part of our lives (and a subject we’ve been writing about for years). From...more
In a world where social media influencers can wield more power over consumers than network media buys, the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Endorsement Guides felt increasingly like a relic from an earlier era. While not...more
Holland & Knight hosted Michael Ostheimer, a senior attorney for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), for a webinar presentation on Oct. 17, 2019. Mr. Ostheimer has been with the FTC for nearly three decades, currently serving...more
It has been said that Instagram, YouTube and blogging represent the height of creative self-expression on the Internet. However, if a brand has sponsored an individual’s content, then the claim to self-expression has its...more
How much trust do you place in celebrities who endorse products on social media platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube? Do you stop to consider whether they are compensated for their efforts...more
Since our previous article on the emerging issue of trademark rights in hashtags, the use of hashtags in social media marketing has continued to grow. Described as the “ignition keys to a social media keyword search,”...more
Social media can be used in a multitude of ways for savvy brands to promote their products. A popular approach is providing “celebrity bloggers” with free or discounted items in exchange for a picture, post, tweet or...more
Welcome to the newest issue of Socially Aware, our Burton Award winning guide to the law and business of social media. In this edition, we present a “grand unifying theory” of today’s leading technologies and the legal...more