FACEBOOK REMOVES PAID GOOGLE+ PROFILE AD

A developer named Michael Lee Johnson recently decided to advertise his Google+ profile on Facebook. Unfortunately, it might not have panned out as well as Johnson had hoped. Johnson’s self-made advertisement, which said “If you’re lucky enough to have a Google+ account, add Michael Lee Johnson, Internet Geek, App Developer, Technological Virtuoso” under the headline “Add Michael to Google+” was pulled by Facebook shortly after he posted it. Worse, Facebook took the matter so seriously that the social network banned all of Johnson’s other advertising campaigns. According to CNET the message from Facebook said:

Your account has been disabled. All of your adverts have been stopped and should not be run again on the site under any circumstances. Generally, we disable an account if too many of its adverts violate our Terms of Use or Advertising guidelines. Unfortunately we cannot provide you with the specific violations that have been deemed abusive. Please review our Terms of Use and Advertising guidelines if you have any further questions.”

Johnson told CNET that he’s considering taking legal action against Facebook for damage to his reputation and emotional distress.

FACEBOOK GOOGLE BATTLE ROYAL CONTINUES

Late last year, Google surprised everyone by suddenly blocking Facebook from being able to import contacts from new users’ Gmail accounts.

When it happened, everyone knew that we were watching two tech giants exchange their first earth-shaking blows for the future of the web. It’s only gotten worse from there as the two colossi have poached one other’s employees and actively bid against each other for important strategic acquisitions like Twitter.

But today, things might have gotten real, as Facebook has decided to shut Google out of their social network entirely by demanding that Facebook app developers only use in-app advertising from approved vendors. Guess who isn’t approved? Google.

Well, not Google specifically, but their two major properties in Adsense and Double Click, which combine to form basically the largest advertising force on the web. If you are a Facebook app developer and your app is serving up ads from Google, you’ve got until February 28th to change your ways or you’re going to get booted.

GROUPON RESPONDS TO SUPER BOWL AD CONTROVERSY

Groupon sure did make a splash at the game, but from all the post-Super Bowl buzz, it's clear the company stumbled in creating the right impression for the brand. One of the spots, which many found borderline offensive, seemed to trivialize the political struggle currently going on in Tibet. In a blog post today, CEO Andrew Mason responded to the controversy, and, in doing so, may have revealed the culprit behind the ad: Crispin Porter + Bogusky.

Except, Alex Bogusky, the so-called Ad Jesus behind the very Hulu-Alec Baldwin Super Bowl spot Mason cites in his explanation, famously quit the ad biz months ago. (Let's hope Groupon got at least 33.3% off on the deal.)

Though Mason took responsibilty for the spot, explaining that trivializing Tibet's cause was never Groupon's intention, the company's founder was clear about who came up with the idea for the commercial:

The firm that conceived the ad, Crispin Porter & Bogusky, strives to draw attention to the cultural tensions created by brands. When they created this Hulu ad, they highlighted the idea that TV rots your brain, making fun of Hulu. Our ads highlight the often trivial nature of stuff on Groupon when juxtaposed against bigger world issues, making fun of Groupon. Why make fun of ourselves? Because it's different—ads are traditionally about shameless self promotion, and we've always strived to have a more honest and respectful conversation with our customers. We would never have run these ads if we thought they trivialized the causes – even if we didn't take them as seriously as we do, what type of company would go out of their way to be so antagonistic?