Thank goodness there isn’t a pandemic or European war to distract us at the minute, and we can focus on important stuff like Instagram influencers promoting seed oil.
Last edited 2 years ago by Jason Smith
Michael Hollick
2 years ago
I know I’m an old fart (58, yes I know I don’t look it…), but I can’t really see anything here that is particularly revelatory. I would have thought a generation “educated” in media studies would be entirely aware of the many and varied methods of selling them things.
And if members of “online communities” really think they are utopias devoid of anything as vulgar as profit motive or political manoeuvring, then there really is no hope.
Laura Creighton
2 years ago
Paid influencers have existed from even before the internet allowed _advertising_. I recall one getting exposed in 1982. (Product reviews were not considered advertising in those early days.) You’re just noticing _now_?
Last edited 2 years ago by Laura Creighton
J Bryant
2 years ago
As other commenters have said, this article doesn’t contain any surprises, but this caught my eye:
“In some circles online, rumours swirl that this type of social engineering happens with shady billionaires or even the federal government. That might be far-fetched (or less common”
I’m not a conspiracy theorist but I do believe much goes on behind the scenes at the behest of government. I’d like to read an article about the US federal government’s clandestine attempts to sway opinion on social media (hint, hint if the author of the current article reads the comments section).
R Wright
2 years ago
I can’t even escape Sneed’s Feed and Seed on Unherd.
Thank goodness there isn’t a pandemic or European war to distract us at the minute, and we can focus on important stuff like Instagram influencers promoting seed oil.
I know I’m an old fart (58, yes I know I don’t look it…), but I can’t really see anything here that is particularly revelatory. I would have thought a generation “educated” in media studies would be entirely aware of the many and varied methods of selling them things.
And if members of “online communities” really think they are utopias devoid of anything as vulgar as profit motive or political manoeuvring, then there really is no hope.
Paid influencers have existed from even before the internet allowed _advertising_. I recall one getting exposed in 1982. (Product reviews were not considered advertising in those early days.) You’re just noticing _now_?
As other commenters have said, this article doesn’t contain any surprises, but this caught my eye:
“In some circles online, rumours swirl that this type of social engineering happens with shady billionaires or even the federal government. That might be far-fetched (or less common”
I’m not a conspiracy theorist but I do believe much goes on behind the scenes at the behest of government. I’d like to read an article about the US federal government’s clandestine attempts to sway opinion on social media (hint, hint if the author of the current article reads the comments section).
I can’t even escape Sneed’s Feed and Seed on Unherd.