Amazon Blocking Certain Reader Reviews?

This is a topic that came to my attention early in 2015. Although I kept it in the back of my mind, I did not pay it much heed at first, primarily because it had not yet happened to me or any of my fellow published writers. It still has not, to my knowledge, but two articles from July 2015 resurfaced on Facebook today and brought the matter back into focus. Since I have some free time on my hands today, let’s discuss…

In summary, Amazon will allegedly block a reader’s review of a writer’s book if Amazon can find proof of a relationship between the two on social media. To better understand the situation, click the links below to read the articles, then come on back.

Amazon Accused of Spying on Reviewer’s Social Media Profiles

Amazon Blocking Reviews from Authors’ Friends, Family, & Acquaintances

Amazon’s Review Policy is Creepy and Bad for Authors

All done?  Great. As stated in both articles, Amazon has an obligation to protect the integrity of its reader reviews by keeping them objective. I completely understand this, of course.

However, let me offer this scenario: A reader, Wendy, leaves an effusive review for a book on Amazon or Goodreads (owned by Amazon for the past three years). The reader then sends a friend request to the writer, Lance, on Goodreads, and Lance accepts the request. Let me be clear—Lance and Wendy have NEVER met in person.

Later, Lance releases his second novel. Wendy reads it, loves it, and tries to leave another five-star review on Amazon…but now she can’t because Amazon has blocked it with the explanation that Wendy has a relationship with Lance on social media and as a result, they cannot allow her review.

Among the many purposes of social media, is not connecting people with similar interests one of those purposes? Is not connecting fans with their favorite artists and writers another such purpose?

I would answer yes to the above questions because how the hell else are artists and writers supposed to build their platforms in the digital age?

Does that mean then that due to Amazon’s policy, I as a published author must decline friendship requests from readers, else run the risk of Amazon blocking any future reviews from them? Does Amazon block negative reviews in this case as well as positive ones?

Has anyone experienced this?  If so, I’d like to hear about it considering that so far, the only stories I’ve heard have been from articles such as those above.

Reviews are CRITICAL to a writer’s career, especially small press and indie writers as well as burgeoning writers at the beginning of their careers. By developing and enforcing this policy, how is Amazon–the champion of the indie writer–helping that writer flourish?

I am currently reading Kristen Lamb’s brilliant book, Rise of the Machines: Human Authors in a Digital World.  Kristen has made it her mission in life to connect writers and readers by providing guidance to writers on how to best use social media to build community and foster friendships–one of the very purposes of social media!

Yet, how can a writer adapt these practices when Amazon might be actively blocking reviews from readers who are connected to their favorite writers online?

Again, to my knowledge, this has not yet happened with any of my books. No reader has contacted me to report it. Yet, one or two of my more savvy readers, who are connected with me on Facebook, have stated that they are hesitant to leave reviews for my books because they heard about Amazon’s policy.

I urge them to at least try.

If the articles are accurate, then Amazon’s policy seems to contradict the very nature of social media.

Writers, has this policy made you think twice about accepting friend requests from readers?  It has not stopped me, but time will tell if I’m going to lose reviews because of it.

To thank you for your time in commenting, one random responder will receive a free copy of my latest speculative fiction anthology, Somewhere in the Middle of Eternity!

Of course, if you read it and enjoy it, I hope you’ll consider leaving a review.  Thank you for your support!