22 days ago
- Social media users are encountering viral content that appears organic but are often undisclosed paid sponsorships by companies or political campaigns.
- Regulatory enforcement for transparent influencer endorsements may weaken under a Trump administration, exacerbating the lack of accountability.
- Examples include undisclosed payments to influencers for promoting prediction markets, political messages, and products, with studies showing high rates of non-disclosure.
- Consumers are increasingly filing class-action lawsuits against brands and influencers for undisclosed partnerships, though legal challenges remain due to hidden funding and ambiguous posts.
- Loopholes allow influencers to avoid disclosure by promoting brands or messages rather than tangible products, making social media effectively a pervasive ad network.