A what? A "social media influencer program?" It's a program that employs people skilled at pretending to be someone they aren't, whose goal is to influence the

A what? A "social media influencer program?" It's a program that employs people skilled at pretending to be someone they aren't, whose goal is to influence the views of people who would prefer to be someone they aren't. "Social media influence" is jargon for lies. Proof? When was the last time you saw a famous actor flogging potatoes? The reason? People actually need potatoes -- they don't need to be tricked into buying them. Even more worrying is the recent rise in lawsuits against anyone who posts a negative product review in social media. The idea is to squelch anything but controlled advertising copy, recited by young, attractive employees. And ... it's working. My favorite advertising slogan of the last 20 years: "If you don't buy a new car, the terrorists win."