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Comment by josephorjoe | Hacker News Reader

He is promoting a business to his followers as a place they should patronize without any actual belief that they should patronize it (other than his belief that businesses that pay him should be patronized).

He is behaving honestly with the restaurants but not with his followers. Unless he is actually posting things like:

"Hey, I've never been to Moe's Tavern but they said I could have a free burger if I posted this picture, so here it is. Go check it out! You should totally spend money there. Moe's is awesome!! (at least, they were awesome enough to offer me a burger to type this!!11!!!)"

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That's what all so called "influencers" do: selling their followers to a highest bidder. Actually, that's what every advertisement business do.

I wish this craze go wider and wider, so people finally stop believing what they are told from billboards, TV screens and social media apps.

I don't think that agency selling places on bus stops has actually tries any of the promoted products.

I think the difference here is that he is actively making a claim which is based on a completely false premise. I know that Roger Federer gets paid a pretty penny to wear a Rolex, but in every ad for it he is still wearing the Rolex; Golfers swear that they trust ball X or club Y, and even though their equipment has been individually engineered to a point that mine never will, they do head to the golf course using those clubs. Giselle Bundchen never says she actually wears Victoria's Secret underwear; she just has pictures of herself taken in it.

Influencers are regulated by the FTC and have to disclose that they're compensated for the review: https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/foia/frequently-requested-reco...

So ethical or not, it's illegal to not disclose.

I did not read the article, but that is a false dichotomy; most places have at least a few good sides, could be location, could be opening times, could be the music. I do not know what kind of reviews he is offering, but positive reviews do not mean he is lying.

Isn't that what ad agencies do? And many paid reviewers.

Which is why I hate ads, and most online reviews.

"Homer: You mean the mob only did me a favor to get something in return?? Ohhh, Fat Tony! I will say good day to you, sir!"

Ok, I'll accept that. I hadn't wholly considered the relationship with the channels followers.

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