Code Society

Oh, how quickly public perception can shift. Digsby, who won 4 out of 5 nominations (out of 6 total categories) in About.com’s 2008 user-voted IM client awards including Developers of the Year, has been one of the much-loved IM clients. Their community has to be very supportive and vocal in order for them to win awards like that. However, they’ve recently made a huge snafu in the PR department by bundling excessive advertising and malware in the installer. After this, I think they won’t be winning the developers of the year award again anytime soon.

Lifehacker’s post sums up everything you need to know about the situation, but reading the comments really gives insight into the people’s thoughts. It’s amazing how hard it is to earn people’s trust, both in business and personal relationships. Yet, that trust can disappear quicker than you can blink. I don’t know if this is the end for Digsby or if they will be able to repair the damage to their brand. However it unfolds, it’s a valuable lesson for all to learn.