Scientology's Viral Marketing

[Reese Leysen]

Left to right: Foundation for a Drug-Free World, United for Human Rights and The Way to Happiness Foundation.

Every day I encounter Google Adsense or YouTube displaying ads for at least one of these sites. Though they always look tacky, they do look a bit more polished and high-budget than you'd normally expect of these sites so at one point I checked em out. First one I entered was the 'Foundation for a Drug-Free World' one. As a web and motion graphics designer, I was quite amazed by the quality of the website and couldn't quite get my head around how what seems to be a typical non-profit organization could get the budget for such a site.

It wasn't until I also entered the 'The Way To Happiness Foundation' site that I found a clue: the site had the exact same technical design style and mentioned how the teachings behind its 'way to happiness' principles are based on a book written by L. Ron Hubbard. A few Google search results later I also found enough official references proving that the other sites were also run by Scientology.

Even though the 'Foundation for a Drug-Free World' and 'United for Human Rights' sites indicate no connection whatsoever to Scientology and the 'Happiness' one mentions it only slightly in some subtle info section, Scientology seems to be throwing massive amounts of cash at advertising these the same way they've been advertising their other websites through YouTube and Google Adsense.

I have my personal opinion but I'm not judging Scientology as a religion here and I respect everyone's religious beliefs. I just wanted to get the word out on this because the idea of billboards and banners all over the web, advertising companies and non-profits that are secretly run by a religious organization with its own agenda is a scary one to me.

[Erik v. d. Bijl]

Wow, I couldn't help to laugh at the antidrug site, that video about drugs and stuff, first of all i've some friends that do drugs / has done drugs... and they never ever came up to me like "your cool if you smoke weed" and so on, and weed leading to harder drugs? only if u want it to be really...

[April Ryan]

Hi all, even though I'm a big fan of the ipower group (and follow your youtube videos) I have only just signed up to this page as I wanted to comment on this post. So, now that I have read all other comments:

1. Good spot Stenbraek! The list of "human rights" according to the 'United for Human Rights' website appears briefly on their video. For anyone who didn't manage to spot it, #27 is... Copyright!!! (so, what about freedom of information and its distribution?)

2. @Kamara Mae: Reese Leysen has a point. It doesn't matter if there are links from the scientology website pointing to those three other websites, since in order to see the link you would have to go to the scientology site FIRST. If you clicked on one of the adverts you'd be sent directly to the children-sites which do not display a link to their parent organisation. This is obviously done on purpose to "trick" people who are against or at the very least not interested in scientology to visiting those sites.

3. I have seen the video Nathan Desautels has posted a link for and I completely agree. I would go so far as to add that there is more likeness between scientology and the mafia than any religion. Here's another link which includes sound: http://theunfunnytruth.ytmnd.com/ --- btw, the same video can also be found on youtube.

Scientology is not just bad. It's a thieving and murderous organisation, claiming to be a religion. It will destroy anyone and anything that stands in its way, as it has already done so many times in the past. So steer clear and alert all your friends and family to do the same.

You know how they say, the devil's in the details? On the 'The Way to Happiness Foundation' site, one of the videos says "do not harm a person of good will". So implicitly they tell you that it's ok to harm someone you think is not a person of good will! Btw before you ask, no it's not ok to harm anyone at all!

And I don't agree with the "ignore it and it'll go away" approach by Jason V. The more you ignore something like this, the more it will grow, until it is too late to stop it...

Remember: Stupidity is invincible!


Take care

[john]

it sites seams fine actually.
well principally I can't be against the Scientology beliefs,
but I can be against the church.

[Jason Craig Valarik]

Reese, my parents were chiropractors and got hooked on Scientology in '91 through WISE. That is World Institute of Scientology Enterprises. I first got into it when I got back from my Order of the Arrow weekend. They discouraged college, but I went anyway; to Penn State. My major was film & video. Yes, all scientologists of the mid 90's frowned upon wasting time in college when 'you can be studying to be an auditor.'
I could go on for days about my exps in Scn but one thing that still facinates me about it is that I went to the same Jr. High school as David Miscavidge, even met him once down in Washington D.C.. Shortly afterward, Dave walked off with his 5 bodyguards, all easily 8 inches taller than him. I told him about how we grew up in neighboring neighborhoods and he invited me to join the Sea Org. I told him that I had already been in when I was 15-16 in Manhatten, Hell's Kitchen to be precise. He said about do I know the motto, and as it occured to me what kind of shit so many people have gone through, their family's well being for Chrie's sake, he said, "We come back." Well, whenever I come back, it will be to save my old friends from that brainwashing, only if they seek my help. Otherwise, to each his own. Stay positive. I cannot (well yes I can) put down Scientologists, they are good people, they believe in the greater cause (such as saving/clearing the planet). It's a very fascinating subject, unfortunately it tkaes your life to study all the circular B.S. No offence to any religious beliefs, but gimme a break.

It all comes down to super-self-help, then bring all your family and friends in, then fuck you and your family and especially your friends because this is about saving the goddamm fuckin'A man planet. It's abso-fuckin'lootly a postive way to.... Damm, I sound like I could use an intensive! (Reese, I don't think that you have, or you ever should,.. research this subject, but an intensive is 12.5 hours of 1-on-1 processing, which costs more than a god damm fuel guzzling Chevy.

Oh, and seriously, bro, try not to ever mention the Scientologists anymore. (That's just like taunting the PoPo or the religious right-wing talk-radio sheep. Just pretend like you've never heard of them. THat type of mindcrap... you do not deserve. Like McCartney told his blackbird, let it be :) (I used to be paranoid years ago, but I finally came to the conclusion that we're all simply here together for the time being) But, coming to IPOWER, I can see higher and higher ways of being, levels of achievment and positive reinforcement.
Itt's Grrreat!
Jason V

& keep on thinkin free 'moody blues'

[Dardon]

Yeah but alot other religions are like scientology without the celbrities XD.

Still all that marketing is pretty harsh.

[Sonny Muranjana Shetty]

wow

[Morten]

One thing I quickly noticed about "The way to happiness" was that they don't mention anything about thinking for yourself. Just as though they assume that their guide is the way life has to be...

"Turn into a mindless zombie, for that is how you are most happy... MUAHAHA!"

[The Dutch Nick]

um, that's ironic, because ipower is nothing but viral marketing itself. i hate scientology as much as the next man, but ipower pisses me off as well. at least its not a religion.

Meh.

Haven't really paid attention to scientology, but from the few things I've seen.. Movies'n sites and st.org, it really gives off that Hollywood vibe. Trash and fakeness.

[Nadim Affani]

When it comes to protecting children from drugs I really have a problem. On the one hand, i really think it's a good cause, on the other one I don't trust scientology's agenda. So I was a bit confused whether I like the no drugs site or not.
But if I'd buy that dvd, I would support their other objectives, too - and that I would not want. So if they hide their participation / ownership of these projects, not making it clear where the money goes and what it is used for, doesn't that negate the whole good pupose of "no drugs for children"? I think there are better ways to spend money for good causes, so I don't need this one.

[Gregor]

there are some really nice vids on the site =D
http://www.thewaytohappiness.org/#/videos/be-industrious