This offers advertisers a way to tap into social media on a local level, and pay the most money to actual leads generated. In this sense it can be a highly efficient form of advertising.
When compared to legitimate grassroots support, this sort of advertising is called “Astroturfing” after the fake plastic grass seen on football pitches and indoor arenas. When you share a link to a promoted product it will say something like “Warm Yourself: Handmade Knit & Crochet Designs. Promotion of Mawuna Koutonin” and the link will take you to the GoodBuzz website, meaning your friends will know what they’re clicking on. As long as this sort of social advertising is honest in the sense that it’s obviously advertising, I think I’m okay with it. Goodbuzz has a solid concept and and is an interesting startup to watch, but it makes me wonder what’s in store for our brave new social world.