Motrin gets a headache — and a lesson in social media

Johnson & Johnson provided an unanticipated demonstration of the increasing influence of social media this week, when it pulled an ad for its Motrin pain reliever from the brand’s website — and a marketing VP issued a statement apologizing for the ad. The reason? Some blogging and Twitter-ing moms had denounced the Motrin ad campaign — which suggested that carrying a baby in a sling or carrier is fashionable yet might cause back pain — and a video of mothers’ critical comments appeared on YouTube. Not exactly the kind of viral marketing companies aim for — but nonetheless a cautionary lesson in the increasing power of social media to cause corporations to change course. As