Yes. But at the same time I'm actually okay with ads for products that are legitimately good and are relevant to me, so long as I know they're an advertisement.

Products need marketing. It's reality. I'd rather get my marketing in the form of a recommendation or review from a trusted source than a random video shoved down my throat.

A easy example of a good source for me is MKBHD. He gets free stuff and sponsorships, but is selective regarding what he'll accept sponsorships from, is very clear when a segment is sponsored, and will absolutely say a product is bad or overpriced even if he got it for free.

[–] mindbleach@sh.itjust.works 0 points 5 months ago

Exploiting trust is worse. That parasocial z-list celebrity isn't recommending something - they were paid to read corporate propaganda.

The most painful version of this is Lindsey Ellis's video on "Manufacturing Authenticity." It ends with a deep sigh and an ad read. The brand knew she was doing a video about how brands pay the popular kids to shill their whatever, and they did not care, because all that matters is getting a known face to say the words.

[–] undefinedValue@programming.dev -3 points 5 months ago (1 children)

You’re part of the problem

[–] Promethiel@lemmy.world 2 points 5 months ago

What is the problem they're so pragmatically a part of? And how do you pin both the content creators needing to eat and the reasonable take of that commenter on the poor Marketing executives who care about neither but just want--actually what do they (end goal of marketing, literally, semantically) want, in your eyes while you're at it? It is their (the marketing execs) side I take it you're on, since the commenter you replied to is part of the problem and the creators do "an ad is an ad" things?

Challenge; remember capitalism exists in the world as it must as the beginning of your answer (but if you can make it vanish and it all works out by the end of the answer, that's cool too as lots of us are looking for that one).

How is that other commenter part of the problem, actually part of the problem suspect?