Celebrity Lawsuit Calls TikTok ‘Breeding Ground for Scams’
ARE THE ADS YOU SEE REAL OR FAKE? 2. AVOID IN-APP PURCHASES. It’s easy to buy products on Instagram with a single click — but should you? To avoid
Imagine you’re scrolling through your social media feed when an ad pops up starring one of your favorite celebrities. Maybe it’s quarterback Tom Brady talking about his favorite fitness foods or actress Julia Roberts showing off her new shoes. You’re intrigued enough to buy the product. But when it arrives, your jaw drops. This isn’t the hottest new luxury item! It’s just a cheap knockoff of the healthy item or Jimmy Choo. How would you feel about your celebrity “friend”? According to Page Six, this exact situation happened to fans of “Real Housewives of New York City” actress and Skinnygirl founder Bethenny Frankel. A scam artist stole clips of her promoting a designer product and edited them, making it appear as if she were selling knockoff cardigans.
Frankel posted her own video decrying the scammer, only to watch TikTok remove it for “abusive content.” In a last-ditch attempt to protect her reputation, she sued the platform for failing to protect her reputation and allowing users to post fake ads, calling it “a breeding ground for scams.” If you use TikTok, Instagram, or Facebook, Frankel’s story should serve as a warning: The ads you see sliding by on your smartphone screen may not be legitimate. To protect yourself from scammers, take these three steps. 1. GO TO THE SOURCE FOR CELEBRITY ENDORSEMENTS. Visit the celebrity’s
scams, leave the app and visit the company’s official website to ensure you’re purchasing the real thing.
3. LOOK FOR SIGNS OF
PHOTOSHOPPING, EDITING, AND MANIPULATION. Does the celebrity’s face look tacked onto another person’s body, or does their phrasing sound broken and clipped together? Is the celebrity sponsoring the ad, or is the brand just using their name (perhaps misspelled) for cachet? Look for these signs before you buy. Ultimately, when buying online, just remember to think before you click. Skepticism is a TikTok user’s best friend.
official social media page and/ or website. Any products they’re advertising should be visible there.
If Your Teen Crashes, You Pay! THE CONSEQUENCE OF GEORGIA’S FAMILY PURPOSE DOCTRINE
If you let your teenager borrow your car regularly or know another parent who does this, you need to read this article. Here in Georgia, lending your vehicle to a family member so they can drive to school or do the household grocery shopping is more dangerous than you might think because of the Family Purpose Doctrine. WHAT IS THE FAMILY PURPOSE DOCTRINE? The Family Purpose Doctrine is a policy enforced within the state of Georgia. Under the doctrine, if one family member lends their car, truck, or motorcycle to another family member from their immediate household, the vehicle’s owner can be held responsible in the case of a crash. In other words, if your 16-year-old son or 24-year-old daughter rear-ends someone while driving your old Toyota Camry
to a friend’s house, you could be on the hook for the other driver’s medical bills. It doesn’t matter if the person who borrowed your car is an adult or not. You could be liable for the accident if you permitted them to use your vehicle.
other age group, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and they’re three times more likely to be in fatal crashes than adults aged 20 or over. Make sure they know Georgia’s driving laws and understand the risk of driving distracted or under the influence. There are some exceptions to the Family Purpose Doctrine, but you shouldn’t count on them. Instead, visit NHTSA.gov/ road-safety/teen-driving to get all the information you need to protect your teens (and your wallet!).
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO TO AVOID THIS?
You can do two things to avoid triggering the Family Purpose Doctrine. First, you can avoid lending your car to anyone else. This option protects you from liability! However, it isn’t a very practical solution. Most families can’t afford separate cars for every child with a driver’s license. Alternatively, if you need to share your car, you must teach your children safe driving habits — especially your teenagers. Teenagers ages 16–19 are more likely to get in car crashes than any
You can always reach Kevin directly at 404.566.8964 or Kevin@PatrickTrialLaw.com. (If you ever need it, his cellphone is 404.409.3160.)
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