FYI – do not fret if #NYCC-ID tweeted as you yesterday! We shut this opt-in feature off so it won't happen anymore. Have a blast at NYCC!— New York Comic Con (@NY_Comic_Con) October 11, 2013
New York Comic Con spread excitement for the convention via pre-written tweets and sent them from attendees’ Twitter accounts.
When the doors opened at New York Comic Con yesterday, many attendees found tweets about the convention had been posted on their account without their knowledge. Attendees had authorized NYCC to send tweets on their behalf when they had completed the online registration with their Twitter account. Today NYCC organizers tweeted they will no longer automatically post promotional tweets from attendees’ accounts.
In an unapologetic tweet, NYCC organizers told attendees, “FYI – do not fret if #NYCC-ID tweeted as you yesterday! We shut this opt-in feature off so it won’t happen anymore. Have a blast at NYCC!”
This was the first year NYCC used RFID-enabled convention badges, which allows systems with a wireless “tag” to be read from a distance. The new badge system is supposed to help NYCC staff in verifying badges and reduce the number of counterfeit badges. When entering or exiting the building, attendees scan their RFID-enabled badge. Because the badge is linked to a social media account used for online registration, NYCC used attendees’ social media accounts to post on attendees’ behalf. Each NYCC promotional tweet included a NYCC hashtag and a link to the event’s Facebook page. Examples of promotional tweets include “So much pop culture to digest! Can’t. handle. the. awesome. #NYCC,” “I can’t get enough #NYCC!” and “So much to see, so much to do! #NYCC 2013 I love you!”
A representative released a statement to Polygon and said, “As you may have seen yesterday, there were some posts to Twitter and Facebook issued by New York Comic Con on behalf of attendees after RFID badges were registered. This was an opt-in function after signing in, but we were probably too enthusiastic in our messaging and eagerness to spread the good word about NYCC. We have since shut down this service completely and apologize for any perceived overstep. Please accept our apologies and have an absolutely excellent time this weekend.”
Source: Polygon
Published: Oct 11, 2013 04:21 pm