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I think this underestimates how much exploitation of this idea of comments as unbiased is currently taking place. There's a reason you can sell a Reddit account

I think this underestimates how much exploitation of this idea of comments as unbiased is currently taking place. There's a reason you can sell a Reddit account with a ton of karma and activity for a decent buck. Tons of PR firms now utilize faux accounts on almost all social media.

xwdv 6y ago
Those however are a small portion of total comments. Pretty much whenever you see a blog you can bet it's being monetized somehow or used for some financial gain. When you see a comment, it's unlikely there is any motive behind it beyond expressing an idea. Now imagine the world where every comment is also some kind of ad or invitation to buy or subscribe to something. Hell.
- kansface 6y ago
  > Those however are a small portion of total comments. When you see a comment, it's unlikely there is any motive behind it beyond expressing an idea. I haven't read or seen any studies. I'm really curious what percentage of the average reddit thread's comments are from companies, nation states, and paid for power users. > Now imagine the world where every comment is also some kind of ad or invitation to buy or subscribe to something. Hell. That would be product reviews!
JoshTriplett 6y ago
> There's a reason you can sell a Reddit account with a ton of karma and activity for a decent buck. What does "a decent buck" amount to, these days? How much does it take to get people to sell their reputation to an unethical marketing firm?
- MattGaiser 6y ago
  $16-$20. https://www.playerup.com/accounts/redditaccount/ https://www.playerup.com/accounts/redditaccount/ Not a lot for Westerners, but that is a week of wages in a place like Ghana. Decent pay for re-posting popular content.
  - ImaCake 6y ago
    I think that is just enough to make it worthwhile even for a poor American. If you can coordinate and plan ahead a little you would break minimum wage.
  - xwdv 6y ago
    Any similar place where you can buy or sell hackernews accounts? Trying to figure out how these downvote farms get accounts at scale.

xwdv 6y ago

Those however are a small portion of total comments. Pretty much whenever you see a blog you can bet it's being monetized somehow or used for some financial gain. When you see a comment, it's unlikely there is any motive behind it beyond expressing an idea. Now imagine the world where every comment is also some kind of ad or invitation to buy or subscribe to something. Hell.

kansface 6y ago
> Those however are a small portion of total comments. When you see a comment, it's unlikely there is any motive behind it beyond expressing an idea. I haven't read or seen any studies. I'm really curious what percentage of the average reddit thread's comments are from companies, nation states, and paid for power users. > Now imagine the world where every comment is also some kind of ad or invitation to buy or subscribe to something. Hell. That would be product reviews!

JoshTriplett 6y ago

> There's a reason you can sell a Reddit account with a ton of karma and activity for a decent buck. What does "a decent buck" amount to, these days? How much does it take to get people to sell their reputation to an unethical marketing firm?

MattGaiser 6y ago
$16-$20. https://www.playerup.com/accounts/redditaccount/ https://www.playerup.com/accounts/redditaccount/ Not a lot for Westerners, but that is a week of wages in a place like Ghana. Decent pay for re-posting popular content.
- ImaCake 6y ago
  I think that is just enough to make it worthwhile even for a poor American. If you can coordinate and plan ahead a little you would break minimum wage.
- xwdv 6y ago
  Any similar place where you can buy or sell hackernews accounts? Trying to figure out how these downvote farms get accounts at scale.