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Do you have a better way of distinguishing between (1) somebody sharing a product because they genuinely think it is good (2) somebody sharing a product because

Do you have a better way of distinguishing between (1) somebody sharing a product because they genuinely think it is good (2) somebody sharing a product because they have a profit motive, despite the product being sh*t. Proper disclosure is a means to expose bias and external motive. It's not perfect but it's arguably the best method we have right now. There's a reason it's written into law [1] [1]: https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/disclosures-101-social-media-influencers https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/disclosures-...

rmbyrro 4y ago
I think the link you shared is about a potentially separate issue. First, it's advertising in the form of paid sponsorship. Second, people have reasons to trust what a social influencer says. I'm doing neither if I have a business or work in a business and I share here an article that I wrote that happens to promote this business. I'm not paying a stranger to talk about the business, and you don't have any reason to trust what I say without the usual judgement you'd employ towards a stranger.
- woojoo666 4y ago
  There is still some trust I have with a stranger that posts on hackernews. Perhaps misplaced, but it's there nonetheless. I trust that if they took the time to post about a product, that they genuinely believe in it. If I later learn that they are just a marketer for that product, that trust will get diminished. To give another example, why do we trust product reviews by strangers on Amazon? They could all be just marketers in disguise after all. But Amazon actually puts effort into removing fake reviews. Why? Because honesty matters. And when you have a bias or profit motive, it's important to disclose that part too, so people can judge your review appropriately. Paid reviewers exist, but they are usually disclosed.
  - tough 4y ago
    But amazon is full of fake reviews, and product listings, and shit... because it makes amazon money.
    - woojoo666 4y ago
      and the more fake reviews, the less I trust them. Likewise, the more people here advertising their products without proper disclosure, the less I'll trust the honesty of the posts. So imo it's in the interest of the community to encourage proper disclosure, so that a certain level of trust is maintained.

rmbyrro 4y ago

I think the link you shared is about a potentially separate issue. First, it's advertising in the form of paid sponsorship. Second, people have reasons to trust what a social influencer says. I'm doing neither if I have a business or work in a business and I share here an article that I wrote that happens to promote this business. I'm not paying a stranger to talk about the business, and you don't have any reason to trust what I say without the usual judgement you'd employ towards a stranger.

woojoo666 4y ago
There is still some trust I have with a stranger that posts on hackernews. Perhaps misplaced, but it's there nonetheless. I trust that if they took the time to post about a product, that they genuinely believe in it. If I later learn that they are just a marketer for that product, that trust will get diminished. To give another example, why do we trust product reviews by strangers on Amazon? They could all be just marketers in disguise after all. But Amazon actually puts effort into removing fake reviews. Why? Because honesty matters. And when you have a bias or profit motive, it's important to disclose that part too, so people can judge your review appropriately. Paid reviewers exist, but they are usually disclosed.
- tough 4y ago
  But amazon is full of fake reviews, and product listings, and shit... because it makes amazon money.
  - woojoo666 4y ago
    and the more fake reviews, the less I trust them. Likewise, the more people here advertising their products without proper disclosure, the less I'll trust the honesty of the posts. So imo it's in the interest of the community to encourage proper disclosure, so that a certain level of trust is maintained.