The FTC Aims To Purge Social Media’s Dark Secrets
The Government Plans To Clean Up Social Media’s Murky Metrics — Can They?
Two summers ago, I found myself in the market for a new espresso machine. As a caffeine enthusiast with more opinions on bean origin than is strictly healthy, I approached this purchase with the gravity of a nuclear arms negotiation.
After hours of online research, I settled on a sleek, highly-rated model that promised to turn my coffee experience into something extraordinary. Little did I know it was the beginning of a personal battle with deceptive online marketing.
When it arrived, my excitement quickly curdled like milk in day-old espresso. The machine was a glorified hot water dispenser, about as capable of producing a decent cup of espresso as I am of making edible tacos. But that’s an article for another day!
The Rabbit Hole of Deception
Baffled by the disparity between my experience and the glowing reviews, I dug deeper. What I uncovered was a rabbit hole of deception. The brand had engaged in an aggressive campaign of fake reviews.
They had created a Potemkin village of coffee enthusiasm, with praise from ‘customers’ who likely couldn’t tell a latte from a light bulb.
