If you happen to be on Twitter, then you'll know that it's full of parties. Not actual parties, but type-away as part of a staged dialogue on a particular topic to win prizes kind of parties.
Usually such parties are organized by corporate sponsors trying to generate buzz about their product. But few have been as controversial as this latest one, hosted by Mom It Forward known as Girls Night Out—that's #GNO to hashtag lovers. The problem: the sponsor of the March 6th Twitter party was an infant formula manufacturer.
The chat was supposed to be about safety and feeding tips for baby. Giveaways included a Kindle Fire and store brand formula (ARV: $250), but we'll never know because the party got curtailed when the 'cops' arrived.
Several vocal moms policed the party until organizers felt it would be best to call the whole thing off when it became clear to Mom It Forward founder Jyl Johnson Pattee "that we would be unable to have a supportive, balanced conversation, which would result in having participants not feel comfortable sharing their personal experiences."
One very vocal moms, Laura felt the party was in violation of World Health Organization’s International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes:
I do not support companies and businesses that market human breast milk substitutes. a.k.a. baby formula #WHOcodeviolation #sbformula—@Greek_Momma
For its part Store Brand Formulas claimed to support breastfeeding and wholly endorse it as the best means to feed a baby. However, not all moms can breastfeed, that's a fact. Are they not entitled to receive and share information about formula in a forum?
Was a Twitter party (with giveaways) an inappropriate means of promotion, or does freedom of expression not apply to those selling infant formula?
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