Smartphones Can't Cure Acne, FTC Rules

jfruhlinger writes "Your smartphone can send texts, surf the Web, and update your Facebook page, so it stands to reason that it can cure acne too, right? Well, maybe not. Two companies that marketed acne-cure apps have settled with the FTC and have been forced to take the apps off the market. (Colored light can kill acne-causing bacteria, but needs to be much more powerful than what a smartphone screen can put out.) Almost 15,000 people bought the apps."

Comments

only 15k people?

[Surt]

I'm actually surprised teens turned out to be that smart. That seems like a very low number of suckers to me.

Re:only 15k people?

[Renraku]

Actually, I've found that the most wasteful people are the poor ones. The people I know living paycheck-to-paycheck mostly end up spending every dime on crap instead of keeping some for savings. As an example, I know someone that will go out and eat at an expensive restaurant ($30+ a person) right after getting paid, for their 20 hours a week minimum wage, then complain about not having much money left over for gas. Did I mention they have the latest iPhone, pay $80/mo for mobile service? They can barely afford a place to stay or eat, but they can afford all that, apparently.

Re:only 15k people?

[slippyblade]

Or, here's another thought... Maybe the person's life is so miserable they see that splurge of eating out after payday as the one bright spot in an otherwise desperate and pathetic existence. Or maybe they are stupid. It's sometimes hard to tell the difference.

Re:only 15k people?

[Oxford_Comma_Lover]

"All scams involve a movement of money from stupid people to smart people "

Smart people get scammed as well, and usually easier.

It really varies. People who are experienced at detecting scams are more likely to detect scams. And people who are smarter will me less susceptible to scams in their field, but (if they have less experience with scams because they tend to interact with more reputable people) will often be more susceptible to scams in unrelated areas.

Re:only 15k people?

[Spugglefink]

Actually, I've found that the most wasteful people are the poor ones.

If I had mod points, I'd mod you up. This is so true it's tragic.

I interact with a lot of people at the low end of the income spectrum, and the very last thing any one of them will ever give up is the damn cell phone. Food, shelter, heat, transportation to work, who cares about any of that stuff? Normally you don't see this level of addiction unless crack or something is involved, and it's just tragic to see.

It's even more tragic to think about how the government is pissing my money away to feed and clothe these people, so they can waste what little they do earn on frivolous luxury items. I mean look, I started my adult life on welfare, and I'm not saying all welfare recipients are automatically worthless parasites. I'm just saying people who are on welfare should have some shame. Use your food stamps to buy Cheery-Ohs and Wheat-eez in bulk bags, and stretch that government assistance as far as you can. Don't stand there paying for your pork rinds with my money, talking on the phone with a shopping cart full of beer and cigarettes behind you. I earned that money you're pissing away by working my ass off, and I really don't appreciate seeing you light it on fire right in front of my face like that.

I think a little shame can be a good thing. I was mortified to have to resort to welfare, and the day my social worker told me I no longer qualified was one of the happiest days of my life. If you need it, use it, that's what it's there for, but try your best to get off, and don't give me that shit about how important it is that you have an iPhone for work.

/rant

Re:only 15k people?

[nedlohs]

What a completely useless tautology.

Yes "if you do the things that make you X, you will be X". After all that's what "things that make you X" means by definition.

The problen is there us no X that will make you rich univerally. That garbage book is just full of things that happened to work in one particular time frame (along with the completely made up). How did all the people who took his advice and invested in real estate in 2006 do?

What colour is UV?

[Jimbookis]

UV kills bacteria. But I don't think the iPhone makes UV. Hey, that gives me an idea... iSolarium! I'll be rich!

You know what?

[SilverHatHacker]

I don't want to live on this planet anymore.

Re:at some point...

[DanTheStone]

People have been selling snake oil (fish oil? placebos?) for a very long time. A huge portion of marketing is misleading. You need to learn not to fall for it, not have people try to hide the whole world full of scammers from you. The same ability to sort out bullshit applies to prescription drugs, diets, vitamin supplements, and everything else people try to sell you.

smart teens?

[nblender]

Does that make them 'oxy-morons'?

Re:at some point...

[wondafucka]

These were probably children that were misled. Everyone was a child at one point, they need guidance not your bullshit. What we should do is toss the assholes that make these scams into the clink for a couple decades.

You're faulting people for exploiting the weaknesses and insecurities of others? I can't even imagine what Television would be like without it.

Had to be done

[kakyoin01]

"Your smartphone can send texts, surf the Web, and update your Facebook page...

...but does it know why kids love Cinnamon Toast Crunch?"

Homeopathy

[Anonymous Coward]

So how come they get fined while producers of homeopathic "medicines" don't?
I'm asking seriously.

Re:at some point...

[firewrought]

At some point we need to stop protecting people from mind-boggling levels of stupidity, or it just allows people to get away with being even *dumber*.

We're all stupid at something no matter how much knowledge and experience we acquire. (In fact, it's a well known adage that smart people are the most likely to fall for a scam".)

While your statement is appealingly righteous, the downside is that the unscrupulous run up costs for the rest of us, no matter what intelligence level they target. I'd rather they not get away with it, even if it spares people the hard-knocks education you advocate. For a society to function anywhere near optimal, the vast majorities of its transactions must be conducted in good faith by all parties.

Re:Our "tech savvy" kids

[idontgno]

I suspect a 600-degree (Fahrenheit) soldering iron tip would do a spectacular job of killing p-acne bacteria. Just apply directly to forehead. And nose. And cheeks.

Re:at some point...

[Hatta]

You need to learn not to fall for it, not have people try to hide the whole world full of scammers from you. The same ability to sort out bullshit applies to prescription drugs, diets, vitamin supplements,

mission statements, campaign promises, sermons...