YouTube - Useful content, or E_Begging cesspool ?
You have undoubtedly watched videos on YouTube. And, you have undoubtedly seen the proliferation of "Honest Reviews", and product placements and endorsements done by Content Creators (CC), or as they like to be called "Influencer's". What do you think about all the Content Creators (CC) "reviewing" products? Have you ever bought an item because the CC recommended it? Did you know that the majority of those products that CC recommend, were supplied by the seller/manufacturer for free, in exchange for an "honest review"?
In my opinion, YouTube has devolved into nothing more than a platform for retailers to display their wares, in the disguise of an "honest review". This is the electronic age's version of "word-of-mouth" advertising, only your neighbor may be lying to you... for money ! And it must be working because you see more and more of this deception of late. It's sickening, and sad. Sad that what was once a excellent medium for CC to help others with anything from projects around the house, to crafts, educational self help, diet information, and so much more... to nothing more than CC trying to make a buck any way they can. Not only promoting products as paid spokespersons, but flat out E-Begging for you to send them money directly. The RED FLAG... "link is in the description" phrase. You hear that, and you can bet they were paid (in some form or fashion) to promote the product or service.
Now just to get this out of the way... I am not against anyone trying to make a buck. If a CC creates good information, and can make money promoting products, great. However, when that same CC uses misrepresentation, deception, and omission, to entice a viewer into buying a product that he/she was basically paid to promote, I draw the line and call that theft by deception. Rarely, extremely rarely, will a CC disclose that they received the product for free, or received the product..."in exchange for" either the product for free, or outright compensation to promote the product. When they don't disclose (preferably up-front) that they have received some sort of compensation for favorably promoting the product or service... that's deception, and/or deception by omission. You as the viewer have the right to know if what the CC is saying, they were in essence PAID to say that. A viewer should be respected and not used simply as a "mark" (i.e. someone identified to take advantage of for monetary gain).
As we all know... when you spend your hard-earned money for a product or service, you are more critical of it's shortcomings. When you receive something for free, you are less likely to be disappointed by its shortcomings because you didn't spend anything for the item. If it breaks in a few days or weeks, or it doesn't do what the sales pitch said it would do, it's no big deal, you just throw it away. No sweat, you didn't have anything invested it it.
We are not only talking about small items here. I have seen channels where large ticket items are provided for free. Some channels even receive $50,000 (and up) tractors or other farm equipment to use however they want, at no cost to them. But ALWAYS in exchange for a favorable (if they want to keep the item) review. I even understand there are contracts involved that stipulate HOW, and How Many times the item will be promoted. Again, it is EXTREMELY rare that you will hear the CC disclose this aspect of the relationship. I assume that in the contract the CC is prohibited from disclosing that there is a formal agreement, and what those terms are. The product supplier may even have editorial veto power over the publishing the video... i.e. not a favorable enough video... you can't publish it.
You will hear many of the CC say, when challenged on it... "well I would never promote something I didn't believe in". While that may be true for some, I think the overwhelming majority of them are lying to protect their income stream. Manufacturer's and suppliers are not stupid. When they make offers to CC to feature their products, they do so only after having viewed those channels that have demonstrated a history of favorable reviews. No manufacture or supplier will take a chance of a CC giving an unfavorable review of their product. So, CC have an incentive to always give a favorable review on products because they know that the freebies and sponsorships will cease to materialize if previous "honest reviews" were unfavorable.
What do YOU think about all the "honest reviews" on YouTube ? Please feel free to post your comments below.
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