FTC ASKED TO INVESTIGATE MTV - tanTALK

Robert K · 01-25-2013, 09:14 AM

NEW YORK, Jan. 18, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Skin Cancer Foundation yesterday filed a formal complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, asking that the F.T.C. use its authority under Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act to investigate MTV's Jersey Shore television series and related promotional initiatives. The Foundation is urging the F.T.C. to hold MTV accountable for promoting cancer-causing behavior through the popular television show, Jersey Shore. Specifically, in the years since the show premiered, tanning beds, a known carcinogen, became a disturbingly integral part of Jersey Shore's narrative. The series consistently portrayed tanning as acceptable and harmless, potentially influencing its young viewers (nearly nine million at the show's peak1) to engage in a dangerous activity. Though the series recently wrapped up, the show will live on through spin-offs and repeats, continuing to expose an impressionable audience to disturbing behaviors with no disclaimer.
The complaint alleges that MTV utilized a complex web of programming, advertising, promotion and merchandising to glamorize and endorse excessive tanning as socially enhancing and beneficial, through use of the cast's "Gym, Tan, Laundry" ritual, without disclosing the related health risks. MTV is deceptively influencing viewers to engage in a cancer-causing activity in violation of Section 5 of the F.T.C. Act. The Skin Cancer Foundation is demanding that MTV, at the very least, include a warning about the risks of skin cancer with the show, its advertising, promotion and merchandising.
"While experts have long suspected a link between skin cancer and tanning beds, it was not until a few years ago that we had research studies definitively showing a connection. The fact is, tanning beds cause skin cancer,2 " said Perry Robins , MD, President and Founder of The Skin Cancer Foundation. "As the series progressed over the years, displays of tanning behaviors grew in frequency along with the cast's influence over viewers, to the point where the expression 'Gym, Tan, Laundry' became a national catchphrase. The repeated and ongoing references to tanning as a harmless activity are dangerous and hazardous to the public's health."
The Skin Cancer Foundation's first attempt to educate those associated with Jersey Shore occurred in February 2010 (after season one), when the Foundation staged an intervention that aired nationally on the television show Extra and resulted in the cast members pledging to change their behavior.3 Despite this pledge, frequent and persistent tanning references were made by cast members throughout the life of the Jersey Shore series. The coverage quickly grew beyond neutral storytelling and developed into thematic, recurring promotion of tanning.
In an effort to assess how much of a role tanning played in the series, the Foundation audited season three of Jersey Shore in its entirety, and episodes one, two, three and six of season five. The Foundation identified an alarming 186 visual or verbal references to tanning in just these 17 episodes. This includes 12 specific mentions of "G.T.L." ("Gym, Tan, Laundry") and 48 images of tanning (including a photo of a tanning parlor in the opening credits of each episode) in season three alone. In just the four episodes of season five that the Foundation reviewed, there were 77 total references to tanning, including 11 mentions of G.T.L. and 20 images of tanning beds.
These findings prompted the Foundation to initiate a September 2012 meeting with MTV executives, where the organization requested that MTV include a warning with each episode and in conjunction with the sale of items and activities that promote tanning. MTV refused, prompting the Foundation to file a formal complaint with the F.T.C. in the hope that the Commission would require the use of such a warning.
Throughout the series, cast members have been shown trying to obtain a tan at any cost, implying to their viewers that tanning is necessary for social acceptance and that the look achieved outweighs the potential health hazards. This implication is further perpetuated through MTV's promotion of the program. The commercials and trailers show the cast members in tanning beds,4 going to the beach to tan, and discussing the need to excessively tan. Additionally, MTV's online games and promotions encourage fans to live the Jersey Shore lifestyle by purchasing G.T.L. products.5
MTV is well-known for a platform that includes repeating programming to an excessive extent. Although the series wrapped up at the end of 2012 it is fair to conclude that the show will live on through reruns, reunion specials and spin-off series, potentially reaching MTV's global audience of half a billion households.6
"The Foundation has struggled with the disappointing messaging of this show for years. MTV should accept some responsibility for informing viewers about the hazards of the activities promoted in its programming. If a warning regarding tanning's health hazards is added to each episode and just one person heeds it, this endeavor is worthwhile," said Dr. Robins.
The dangers of tanning are well documented – ultraviolet radiation is a proven human carcinogen. The International Agency for Research on Cancer, an affiliate of the World Health Organization, includes UV tanning devices in its Group 1, a list of the most dangerous cancer-causing substances.7 New research has shown that those who make just four visits to a tanning booth per year can increase their risk for melanoma by 11 percent, and their risk for the two most common forms of skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, by 15 percent.8 Overall, those who tan indoors are 74 percent more likely to develop potentially deadly melanoma than those who have never tanned indoors.9
Though most tanning references the Jersey Shore cast makes are about indoor tanning devices, it is important to note that the outdoor tanning (aka "sunbathing") is also health-hazardous. About 86 percent of melanomas10 and 90 percent of nonmelanoma skin cancers are associated with exposure to UV radiation from the sun.11
Disturbingly, aside from the occasional sunburn, the cast never seriously discusses the risks of tanning or the danger associated with tanning. For example, in Episode 13 of season two, cast member Paul DelVecchio (Pauly D) enthusiastically nominated himself "Most Likely to Get Skin Cancer."
"We are dealing with a tanning epidemic in this country, and I see the effects it has on young men and women every day in my practice. It amazes me that girls come to see me and admit that they have memberships at three different tanning salons," said Senior Vice President of The Skin Cancer Foundation Deborah Sarnoff , MD, the dermatologist who staged the televised 2010 intervention with Jersey Shore's cast. "There is a cavalier attitude that it's 'just' skin cancer, and that it can be easily remedied. But it's not a joke to the people who watch their nose disappear with excision surgery, or to those who undergo chemotherapy to stop the spread of their potentially deadly melanoma. This is real – I've had patients as young as 25 die from melanoma."
The Skin Cancer Foundation acknowledges that it is not MTV's role to advocate or dismiss any particular activity or behavior. However, the network has an impressionable demographic that happens to be a core part of the population at particular risk for skin cancer. From 1970 to 2009, the incidence of melanoma increased by 800 percent among young women and 400 percent among young men.12 Each year, more than 9,000 people die from melanoma.13 By refusing to warn Jersey Shore viewers about the thoroughly established dangers of tanning, MTV is putting lives in danger.
The complaint was filed with the F.T.C. by Sanders Ortoli Vaughn-Flam Rosenstadt (SOVR) LLP, on behalf of The Skin Cancer Foundation. The complaint is available at SkinCancer.org/jersey-shore.
For more information about The Skin Cancer Foundation, including information about indoor tanning and its link to skin cancer, please visit SkinCancer.org.

PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1yDki)

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-relea...187432711.html

JOHN @ URI · 01-25-2013, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Overall, those who tan indoors are 74 percent more likely to develop potentially deadly melanoma than those who have never tanned indoors

Well at least it isn't 75% anymore

sunsally · 01-25-2013, 10:54 AM

Unbelievable.

tanu01 · 01-25-2013, 01:12 PM

It seems like their waiting behind every door to pounce on us.

DH · 01-25-2013, 05:59 PM

This is good. MTV will ponce on them. It's owned by the liberal thugs that own the FTC.

This will be one of the first defeats for the Skin Cancer Foundation.

MTV has way more money, power, and thugs in more powerful places.

bodyglowtan5433 · 01-25-2013, 06:23 PM

Wow!
That's a stretch... Are they also going after MTV for promoting drunken behavior to its "young viewers?" I think Snooki got drunk in nearly every episode...

BuyersGroup · 01-25-2013, 07:28 PM

Its a slippery slope not just MTV would be impacted it should go to the supreme court.

Do we really need warnings and instruction to understand the basics of living our lives. The handholding is crazy kids get out of school dumber than when they went in. How about we all take a little resposi ilty for our own actions.

This stuff drives me nuts.

suncitypembroke · 01-26-2013, 05:38 AM

Thank Robert for pointing that out to all. But waite a minute what about the smoking , the drinking , the fighting, the swearing, the sex ,the partying, etc they got alot of people to contact and bring to the FTC :)

sunsally · 01-26-2013, 07:29 AM

For what it is worth, "asking" the FTC to investigate is sort of like filing a law suit. Anyone can do it - you can sue anyone for anything. But it may or may not go anywhere.

They DID say this:

"The Skin Cancer Foundation acknowledges that it is not MTV's role to advocate or dismiss any particular activity or behavior."

In the end, that is the key. It isn't MTV's role, whether to monitor what is shown in the videos they play, what is on the shows, etc.

As pointed out - if you want to talk about "impressionable kids", probably should be more worried about the images of drinking, smoking, violence, unsafe sex, etc etc etc The "statistics" on these behaviors are far more impactful. But they have much stronger support lobbies.

tanu01 · 01-26-2013, 10:00 AM

It all comes down to money.......... The derms want the tanning beds back in thier offices. Locally they use to charge $100 per 10 min session.

01-25-2013, 09:14 AM	#1 (permalink)
Robert K Team TanTalk Join Date: Aug 27 2002 Location: East Coast Age: 56 Posts: 2,888 Rep Power: 22	FTC ASKED TO INVESTIGATE MTV NEW YORK, Jan. 18, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Skin Cancer Foundation yesterday filed a formal complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, asking that the F.T.C. use its authority under Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act to investigate MTV's Jersey Shore television series and related promotional initiatives. The Foundation is urging the F.T.C. to hold MTV accountable for promoting cancer-causing behavior through the popular television show, Jersey Shore. Specifically, in the years since the show premiered, tanning beds, a known carcinogen, became a disturbingly integral part of Jersey Shore's narrative. The series consistently portrayed tanning as acceptable and harmless, potentially influencing its young viewers (nearly nine million at the show's peak1) to engage in a dangerous activity. Though the series recently wrapped up, the show will live on through spin-offs and repeats, continuing to expose an impressionable audience to disturbing behaviors with no disclaimer. The complaint alleges that MTV utilized a complex web of programming, advertising, promotion and merchandising to glamorize and endorse excessive tanning as socially enhancing and beneficial, through use of the cast's "Gym, Tan, Laundry" ritual, without disclosing the related health risks. MTV is deceptively influencing viewers to engage in a cancer-causing activity in violation of Section 5 of the F.T.C. Act. The Skin Cancer Foundation is demanding that MTV, at the very least, include a warning about the risks of skin cancer with the show, its advertising, promotion and merchandising. "While experts have long suspected a link between skin cancer and tanning beds, it was not until a few years ago that we had research studies definitively showing a connection. The fact is, tanning beds cause skin cancer,2 " said Perry Robins , MD, President and Founder of The Skin Cancer Foundation. "As the series progressed over the years, displays of tanning behaviors grew in frequency along with the cast's influence over viewers, to the point where the expression 'Gym, Tan, Laundry' became a national catchphrase. The repeated and ongoing references to tanning as a harmless activity are dangerous and hazardous to the public's health." The Skin Cancer Foundation's first attempt to educate those associated with Jersey Shore occurred in February 2010 (after season one), when the Foundation staged an intervention that aired nationally on the television show Extra and resulted in the cast members pledging to change their behavior.3 Despite this pledge, frequent and persistent tanning references were made by cast members throughout the life of the Jersey Shore series. The coverage quickly grew beyond neutral storytelling and developed into thematic, recurring promotion of tanning. In an effort to assess how much of a role tanning played in the series, the Foundation audited season three of Jersey Shore in its entirety, and episodes one, two, three and six of season five. The Foundation identified an alarming 186 visual or verbal references to tanning in just these 17 episodes. This includes 12 specific mentions of "G.T.L." ("Gym, Tan, Laundry") and 48 images of tanning (including a photo of a tanning parlor in the opening credits of each episode) in season three alone. In just the four episodes of season five that the Foundation reviewed, there were 77 total references to tanning, including 11 mentions of G.T.L. and 20 images of tanning beds. These findings prompted the Foundation to initiate a September 2012 meeting with MTV executives, where the organization requested that MTV include a warning with each episode and in conjunction with the sale of items and activities that promote tanning. MTV refused, prompting the Foundation to file a formal complaint with the F.T.C. in the hope that the Commission would require the use of such a warning. Throughout the series, cast members have been shown trying to obtain a tan at any cost, implying to their viewers that tanning is necessary for social acceptance and that the look achieved outweighs the potential health hazards. This implication is further perpetuated through MTV's promotion of the program. The commercials and trailers show the cast members in tanning beds,4 going to the beach to tan, and discussing the need to excessively tan. Additionally, MTV's online games and promotions encourage fans to live the Jersey Shore lifestyle by purchasing G.T.L. products.5 MTV is well-known for a platform that includes repeating programming to an excessive extent. Although the series wrapped up at the end of 2012 it is fair to conclude that the show will live on through reruns, reunion specials and spin-off series, potentially reaching MTV's global audience of half a billion households.6 "The Foundation has struggled with the disappointing messaging of this show for years. MTV should accept some responsibility for informing viewers about the hazards of the activities promoted in its programming. If a warning regarding tanning's health hazards is added to each episode and just one person heeds it, this endeavor is worthwhile," said Dr. Robins. The dangers of tanning are well documented – ultraviolet radiation is a proven human carcinogen. The International Agency for Research on Cancer, an affiliate of the World Health Organization, includes UV tanning devices in its Group 1, a list of the most dangerous cancer-causing substances.7 New research has shown that those who make just four visits to a tanning booth per year can increase their risk for melanoma by 11 percent, and their risk for the two most common forms of skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, by 15 percent.8 Overall, those who tan indoors are 74 percent more likely to develop potentially deadly melanoma than those who have never tanned indoors.9 Though most tanning references the Jersey Shore cast makes are about indoor tanning devices, it is important to note that the outdoor tanning (aka "sunbathing") is also health-hazardous. About 86 percent of melanomas10 and 90 percent of nonmelanoma skin cancers are associated with exposure to UV radiation from the sun.11 Disturbingly, aside from the occasional sunburn, the cast never seriously discusses the risks of tanning or the danger associated with tanning. For example, in Episode 13 of season two, cast member Paul DelVecchio (Pauly D) enthusiastically nominated himself "Most Likely to Get Skin Cancer." "We are dealing with a tanning epidemic in this country, and I see the effects it has on young men and women every day in my practice. It amazes me that girls come to see me and admit that they have memberships at three different tanning salons," said Senior Vice President of The Skin Cancer Foundation Deborah Sarnoff , MD, the dermatologist who staged the televised 2010 intervention with Jersey Shore's cast. "There is a cavalier attitude that it's 'just' skin cancer, and that it can be easily remedied. But it's not a joke to the people who watch their nose disappear with excision surgery, or to those who undergo chemotherapy to stop the spread of their potentially deadly melanoma. This is real – I've had patients as young as 25 die from melanoma." The Skin Cancer Foundation acknowledges that it is not MTV's role to advocate or dismiss any particular activity or behavior. However, the network has an impressionable demographic that happens to be a core part of the population at particular risk for skin cancer. From 1970 to 2009, the incidence of melanoma increased by 800 percent among young women and 400 percent among young men.12 Each year, more than 9,000 people die from melanoma.13 By refusing to warn Jersey Shore viewers about the thoroughly established dangers of tanning, MTV is putting lives in danger. The complaint was filed with the F.T.C. by Sanders Ortoli Vaughn-Flam Rosenstadt (SOVR) LLP, on behalf of The Skin Cancer Foundation. The complaint is available at SkinCancer.org/jersey-shore. For more information about The Skin Cancer Foundation, including information about indoor tanning and its link to skin cancer, please visit SkinCancer.org. PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1yDki) http://www.prnewswire.com/news-relea...187432711.html __________________ Robert Klem Superior UV Technologies (888) 526-7712 x77 robertk@superioruv.com

01-25-2013, 10:54 AM	#3 (permalink)
sunsally Team TanTalk Join Date: Nov 23 2004 Location: ITA Member & Berman Supporter! Posts: 3,136 Rep Power: 25	Re: FTC ASKED TO INVESTIGATE MTV Unbelievable.

01-25-2013, 01:12 PM	#4 (permalink)
tanu01 "The Man" Join Date: Mar 4 2003 Location: ohio Posts: 4,015 Rep Power: 23	Re: FTC ASKED TO INVESTIGATE MTV It seems like their waiting behind every door to pounce on us.

01-25-2013, 05:59 PM	#5 (permalink)
DH Join Date: Dec 13 2001 Location: MD Posts: 298 Rep Power: 23	Re: FTC ASKED TO INVESTIGATE MTV This is good. MTV will ponce on them. It's owned by the liberal thugs that own the FTC. This will be one of the first defeats for the Skin Cancer Foundation. MTV has way more money, power, and thugs in more powerful places.

01-25-2013, 06:23 PM	#6 (permalink)
bodyglowtan5433 Join Date: Mar 5 2009 Location: MI Posts: 7 Rep Power: 0	Re: FTC ASKED TO INVESTIGATE MTV Wow! That's a stretch... Are they also going after MTV for promoting drunken behavior to its "young viewers?" I think Snooki got drunk in nearly every episode...

01-25-2013, 07:28 PM	#7 (permalink)
BuyersGroup Join Date: Mar 6 2012 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 223 Rep Power: 13	Re: FTC ASKED TO INVESTIGATE MTV Its a slippery slope not just MTV would be impacted it should go to the supreme court. Do we really need warnings and instruction to understand the basics of living our lives. The handholding is crazy kids get out of school dumber than when they went in. How about we all take a little resposi ilty for our own actions. This stuff drives me nuts.

01-26-2013, 05:38 AM	#8 (permalink)
suncitypembroke Join Date: Apr 21 2004 Location: Mass. Posts: 698 Rep Power: 21	Re: FTC ASKED TO INVESTIGATE MTV Thank Robert for pointing that out to all. But waite a minute what about the smoking , the drinking , the fighting, the swearing, the sex ,the partying, etc they got alot of people to contact and bring to the FTC :)

01-26-2013, 07:29 AM	#9 (permalink)
sunsally Team TanTalk Join Date: Nov 23 2004 Location: ITA Member & Berman Supporter! Posts: 3,136 Rep Power: 25	Re: FTC ASKED TO INVESTIGATE MTV For what it is worth, "asking" the FTC to investigate is sort of like filing a law suit. Anyone can do it - you can sue anyone for anything. But it may or may not go anywhere. They DID say this: "The Skin Cancer Foundation acknowledges that it is not MTV's role to advocate or dismiss any particular activity or behavior." In the end, that is the key. It isn't MTV's role, whether to monitor what is shown in the videos they play, what is on the shows, etc. As pointed out - if you want to talk about "impressionable kids", probably should be more worried about the images of drinking, smoking, violence, unsafe sex, etc etc etc The "statistics" on these behaviors are far more impactful. But they have much stronger support lobbies.

01-26-2013, 10:00 AM	#10 (permalink)
tanu01 "The Man" Join Date: Mar 4 2003 Location: ohio Posts: 4,015 Rep Power: 23	Re: FTC ASKED TO INVESTIGATE MTV It all comes down to money.......... The derms want the tanning beds back in thier offices. Locally they use to charge $100 per 10 min session.

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