Home > Latest News > Google Accused Of Forcing Influencers To Favour New Pixel Phones

Google Accused Of Forcing Influencers To Favour New Pixel Phones

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold

As Google unveiled its newest range of Pixel 9 smartphones recently, it is already coming under pressure for some of the marketing and promotion tactics it has used to promote the phone.

Google invited content creators to join its “Team Pixel” programme, which allows early access to the devices before the rest of the public has access to it.

However, the programme’s review agreement stipulated that participating influencers were not allowed to feature Pixel products alongside competitors, and furthermore those who showed a preference for competing phones could potentially be expelled from the programme.

The agreement told participants they were “expected to feature the Google Pixel device in place of any competitor mobile devices.”

It also added that “if it appears other brands are being preferred over the Pixel, we will need to cease the relationship between the brand and the creator.”

Google claims the interior screen on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is 80 per cent brighter than its predecessor

Google has had to clarify those onerous conditions, all of which have now been removed.

Google communications manager Kayla Geier said, “#TeamPixel is a distinct program, separate from our press and creator reviews programs. The goal of #TeamPixel is to get Pixel devices into the hands of content creators, not press and tech reviewers. We missed the mark with this new language that appeared in the #TeamPixel form yesterday, and it has been removed.”

The Team Pixel programme is not directly managed by Google and is instead run by PR agency 1000heads.

At the Made By Google event last week, Google revealed its all-new range of Pixel 9 smartphones, which includes one standard model — the Pixel 9 — and three Pro models: the Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

The team at ChannelNews too has received some of the new devices to review. We were neither asked to adhere to any such conditions regarding favourable coverage, and as is a long-standing policy at 4Square Media, the parent company of ChannelNews, all product reviews are impartial and factual.



You may also like
iPhone 16 Display Beaten By Google and Samsung Devices
Is This The Google Pixel 9a, Due Mid-2025?
Google Pixel 10 Leaks Have Started
Google Pixel 9
Review: Google Pixel 9 Punches Above Its Weight
Google Pixel Phones Have Major Security Loophole

Popular Posts

LG Cuts Costs After Failing To Hire New Sales Director After Exit Of Richardson
Latest News
/
/
Switch Game Library Will Be Compatible With Successor: Nintendo
Latest News
/
/
REVIEW: It’s Party Box Time & BlueAnt Has A New Speaker That Comes With Two Free Wireless Mics
Latest News
/
/
CEDIA Show Takes A Dive, Will It Survive
Latest News
/
/
Is Apple Pushing Back OLED Over Cost And Supply Chain?
Latest News
/
/

Digital Magazines

Recent Post

LG Cuts Costs After Failing To Hire New Sales Director After Exit Of Richardson
Latest News
/
//
Comments are Off
It appears that LG Electronics has moved to slash costs as opposed to hiring a new Sales Director, following the...
Read More