💡The Verge's Today I'm Toying With Gets Ethical Makeover
Tech reviewers can't take freebies anymore
TL;DR
The Verge's Today I'm Toying With series now adheres to an ethics policy, prohibiting acceptance of items from companies. Winners in monthly giveaways will remain anonymous.
Starting today, The Verge's 'Today I'm Toying With' video series has a new rule: no more freebies from tech companies or PR firms. Sean Hollister, the host, will now either return unwanted gadgets to the company or give them away, ensuring transparency and ethics in his reviews. Winners of monthly giveaways will be chosen randomly with no prior knowledge of what they'll receive. This change impacts how tech reviewers operate and sets a new standard for ethical practices.
Key Points
Ethics policy prohibits acceptance of items from companies or PR firms
Winners will be chosen randomly with no prior knowledge of prize contents
Giveaways occur monthly, featuring robot toys, USB-C chargers, and gaming gear
Sweepstakes begins May 27th, 2026, at 9:00 AM ET and ends June 10th, 2026
Winners must be legal residents of the 50 US states or Washington D.C.
Why It Matters
Tech reviewers like Sean Hollister now face stricter ethical guidelines. This impacts transparency in product reviews and sets a new standard for honesty in tech media, affecting how companies approach PR strategies.
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