How might laws and regulations associated with marketing affect an organization such as Craigslist?
Most online companies that engage in the business of marketing and advertising have been hit by a strong social bug that has inherently led to illegal activities such as cyber-stalking. The Craigslist Company is a good example of such an online marketing organizations. With numerous illegal facilities orchestrated by the clients using the site, the company might be strongly affected by the laws and regulations that govern marketing (“Craigslist Crime Wave,” 2012). Craigslist can be held liable for any deceptive claims advertised through their web page. They can further be faced with several penalties that would affect their business. The company web page is also bound to be ceased, and heavy fines are imposed on the management. This can adversely affect the company by altering its profit margin and reducing human traffic. An injunction can be issued against publishing such pages that seem to violate the rules and regulations. This can affect the company’s power of advertising. Lastly, Craigslist can be faced with legal prosecutions such as damage compensation and criminal prosecutions that can affect the company’s general outlook.
Should any additional laws be created to deal with social community Web sites such as Craigslist? If so, what type?
Though Craigslist and other social community web sites have been said to be victims of circumstances, it is important to lay down additional laws as a means of controlling the illegal activities facilitated by their clients. One such law should be a prohibition against publishing any information that advertises illegal activities such as prostitution or child abuse. Another law that needs to be put in place is data protection regulation to ensure that Craigslist protects the private data of all their clients (“The Web’s New Gold Mine,” 2010). This regulation will ensure that crimes such as identity theft are minimized. Another law is one that requires Craigslist and such other companies to take full responsibility for such information that they advertise and market, and one that is said to promote illegal activities. Craigslist, for example, has not disputed the fact that it is aware of the offensive content that it publishes and hence should be held fully accountable.
What are the moral implications of a Web site that hosts arrangements for ethically questionable activities, such as sexual encounters among married people with nonspouse partners?
Advertisements and marketing of some commodities and content that are ethically questionable can lead to serious moral implications. This is because the purpose of advertising and marketing is to get to a wider range of consumers. A good example is the advertisements placed on Craigslist where married people seek sexual encounters with other people other than their spouses. This can lead to a high rate of promiscuity. When advertising, spouses use enticing advertising words that appeal to their sexual partners hence getting responses from more than one partner. Another moral implication is breeding a lying nation. In advertising, people use false words as marketing tools and people not only get what they bargained for but the spouses affected are forced to break their ‘honesty’ vow. Finally, such advertisements promote sexually transmitted diseases due to the high rate of infidelity.
How do the concepts regarding social responsibility apply to an organization such as Craigslist?
The concept of social responsibility gives the assumption that a company has a major impact on society that cannot be measured either by its profit or loss. With an estimated more than nine billion visitors in a month and its wide range of reach in different countries, Craigslist has applied the concepts of social responsibility. The first concept entails Craigslist to get involved with social community activities. This can be supported by the fact that not only does the company make charitable contributions, but it also acts as a resource for non-profit organizations. The concept is also enshrined in the company’s mission statement that greatly emphasizes helping each other. The concept also requires the company to come up with social policies that will protect its consumers. Though criminals have continued to use Craigslist to conduct illegal businesses, it is evident that the management is trying hard to avoid such activities (“eBay Employees Under Criminal Probe,” 2011). For example, the action of deleting one of their web sites is proof that the concepts of social responsibility do indeed apply in such organizations such as Craigslist.
Reference List
Craigslist Crime Wave. (2012). The Wall Street Journal Newspaper. Web.
EBay Employees Under Criminal Probe Related To Craigslist. (2011). The Wall Street Journal Newspaper. Web.
Web’s New Gold Mine: Your Secrets. (2010, July 30). The Wall Street Journal Newspaper. Web.