FTC Live in Social Media

Twitter Chats

Twitter chats are a great way for people to get together on Twitter at a certain time to discuss a specific topic. While the Federal Trade Commission staff strives to answer as many general questions on Twitter as they come in, the FTC also hosts or participates in Twitter chats to share news of interest and answer questions about the work the agency is doing to protect America’s consumers and ensure competition in the marketplace. Chats are open to the public and everyone is encouraged to participate.

We generally promote each chat on Twitter via the FTC’s primary Twitter account @FTC, through the media, and on this page using a designated hashtag.

Hashtags are an easy way to link a conversation on Twitter regardless of who follows whom. The chat records below indicate some of the various FTC-specific hashtags.

See also FTC's Facebook Chats

Twitter Chat Guidelines

1. We use a Q1/A1 format for chats. For each question, the FTC will send out a retweet or modified tweet with the question and Twitter handle of the original question.
2. Unless posted otherwise, chats are limited to 60 minutes.
3. We’ll answer questions from as many different participants as possible before going back to someone who has already asked a question.
4. Remember that we cannot discuss non-public information, but will try to answer as many questions from participants as possible in the time allowed.
5. Official transcripts posted to FTC.gov will have Twitter handles redacted. For more details about how we maintain records including Twitter handles, please read our Twitter Privacy Impact Assessment.

The following is a list of transcripts from previous FTC Twitter chats, listed in reverse chronological order:

Topic	Date	Details	Hashtag
Pet Medications Workshop	October 2012	FTC workshop explored competition and consumer protection issues in the pet medications industry.	#FTCpets
Green Guides	October 2012	Staff answers questions about the FTC’s revised Green Guides.	#FTCgreen
Tech@FTC	August 2012	Ed Felten chats about his time as the FTC’s first Chief Technologist.	#TechFTC
Google	August 2012	FTC staff attorneys Megan Gray and Megan Bartley answered questions live about the FTC’s settlement with Google.	#FTCpriv
Robocalls	July 2012	FTC staff attorney Kati Daffan answered questions live about robocalls, what the FTC is doing about them, and what consumers can do.	#FTCrobo
Skechers Settlement	May 2012	FTC East Central Region attorney Larissa Bungo answered questions live about the FTC’s settlement with Skechers.	#FTCbcp
FTC Privacy Report	March 2012	Peder Magee and Ed Felten answered questions live about the FTC’s final privacy report.	#FTCpriv
National Consumer Protection Week	March 2012	Cheryl Hackley and Lesley Fair answered consumer questions live with @USAgov.	#NCPW
Facebook Settlement	November 2011	FTC Attorney Laura Berger hosted a Twitter chat to discuss the FTC’s settlement with Facebook.	#FTCpriv
Reebok Settlement	September 2011	FTC East Central Region attorneys Larissa Bungo and Dana Barragate hosted a Twitter chat to discuss the FTC’s settlement with Reebok.	#FTCbcp
COPPA Changes	September 2011	FTC staff attorneys Phyllis Marcus and Mamie Kresses participated in a weekly privacy Twitter chat co-hosted by EPIC to discuss proposed changes to COPPA.	#PrivChat
Google Buzz	March 2011	FTC announced a proposed settlement with Google over the rollout of its Buzz Social Network and former FTC staff attorney Katie Ratte answered questions.	#FTCpriv
Draft Privacy Report	December 2010	FTC released a preliminary proposed staff report on privacy and hosted its first Twitter chat. Maneesha Mithal answered questions.	#FTCpriv

NOTE: As of October 3, 2011 the FTC Twitter handle has changed to @FTC from @FTCgov.

Interactive Workshops

In 2011, the FTC began to live-Tweet workshops hosted by the Commission. The following is a list of transcripts from previous workshops, listed in reverse chronological order. For more information about past and upcoming conferences and workshops, check out the FTC workshop page.

Topic	Date	Details	Hashtag
In Short: Advertising and Privacy Disclosures in a Digital World	May 2012	FTC workshop explored the need for new guidance concerning the use of advertising and privacy disclosures online and on mobile platforms.	#FTCdisclose
Paper, Plastic…or Mobile?	April 2012	FTC staff hosted a workshop on mobile payments.	#FTCmobile
Face Facts	December 2011	FTC workshop explored facial recognition technology and the privacy & security implications raised by its increasing use	#FTCpriv
Auto Dealers Roundtable	November 2011	FTC roundtable explored consumer protection issues that may arise in the sale, financing or leasing of motor vehicles.	#FTCbcp
Child Identity Theft	July 2011	FTC co-hosted a forum to explore the nature of child ID theft, including foster care ID theft, and ID theft within families.	#childIDT
Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs)	May 2011	FTC workshop discussed how federal antitrust agencies will enforce antitrust laws when competing health care providers create new ACOs.	#FTCACO