The FDA weighs in on social media in a warning way

RIch Meyer reports:

While many pharma companies are avoiding social media and afraid of the channel some are embracing it and they key lesson here is not to like another page that does not practice good control over content.  On facebook you can either “like a page” or “like a post” from someone else.  It seems that the FDA is going to ensure that pharma marketers don’t like posts or pages that contain any off label promotional claim.  

This means that if pharma wants to venture into social media they are going to need someone to take charge of their social media marketing to ensure that posts and likes don’t get out of hand. The bottom line here is that we are in an unexplored area but an area that has to be mapped.  You’re not going to learn by waiting for the FDA and consumers are using social media for health so when you enter the area off the map chart your course and leave a trail for others to follow.