BrandWeek recently published an article regarding the use of social media by marketers of alcoholic beverage brands. With so many alcoholic brands stepping into the space, and so few restrictions and regulations what is absolutely clear is the drastic need for moderation - not just monitoring.

The article referenced an upcoming report being put out by the FTC expected in early 2011, regarding the number of times minors get passed age restrictions on such sites. “Facebook has some age barriers that are easily gotten around,” said Michele Simon, research and policy director of the Marin Institute. The institute is calling for the removal of all promotional content posted on Facebook by such alcoholic companies. (more…)

Have you ever wondered what you would say if the whole world were listening? Well, MySpace and Titan have launched a joint promotion called Step Up to the Mic which combines digital out-of-home and social media in an experiment to attract advertisers.

The promotion has no intention of creating revenue and according to Brandweek.com no money will be changing hands between the two companies. The concept is looking to the future in hopes that advertisers may wish to sponsor similar dialogues or create their own promotion around a specific event, such as Halloween or Christmas. (more…)

Kellogg’s Pop Tart brand is getting creative in the social media sphere with a new user-generated content (UGC) contest that requires creativity, design and a flare for the sweet breakfast treat in the new Pop Tarts Pop Art contest. (more…)

CKE Restaurants has made an interesting media buy, consisting of high-profile YouTube creators and engaging user-generated content (UGC) to roll out the new “Carl’s Jr. portobello mushroom six dollar burger.”

The campaign is targeting young men, and centres around nine video creators, including Justine Ezarik, a 25-year-old with a cable TV sized audience on her vlog. The team has been commissioned to put their own spin on the infamous Paris Hilton-eating-a-burger commercial, showing how they would eat their own. (more…)

Skittles, the Mars candy, has revamped its website adopting a wiki-style to allow fans and consumers to have more control over the brand.

The site was rebuilt by Agency.com and includes several social media apps including a Twitter section and links to Skittles’ Facebook and Flickr pages. (more…)

Interbrew, the giant brewing company, is experimenting with a new blog for its Beck’s brand. The company has hired British stand-up comedian Darius Davies to write the Daily Different at Becks.com.

Launched last week, the blog is collection of odd little stories including one about Star Wars, the Musical, and the python that tried to eat an alligator.

“At the Daily Different we, and by we I mean me, are trying to bring you exciting articles that are interesting, funny, unique and that encapsulate our point of view of  being ‘Different by Choice’,” writes Davies on the blog, providing one of the only ties to the brand’s tagline created by Euro RSCG 4D of Amsterdam. (more…)