How to Tell If an Influencer REALLY Likes a Product

[stevenjacobs]

Extranet Shaquille coming in to try and teach critical thinking to a YouTube audience. It's a bold strategy.

[charlieb]

The one asterisk to the “do they list negatives” is that some ad reads do list non-substantive negatives to make it seem more objective but really they don’t apply at all either to the target audience or the product itself

[kyerin]

I have become weirdly immune to youtuber and podcast ad reads as they are almost always for products I can't access here in the non-US world. So they really do go over my head and I'm just glad my fave creators can pay their bills. Maybe the lesson is I should be listening to more local stuff but oh well.

[CBMX_GAMING]

This is actually a major topic in the LEGO community, of all things. LEGO creators are likely to be biased for monetary reasons. They have affiliate links to purchase LEGO sets in their description. Therefore they are motivated to hype up / show off the best aspects of a product or give a more positive review. If you are in LAN (basically a LEGO affiliate network) you get LEGO products for free, early. They are motivated to stay in LEGO's good graces even if they are allowed to give negative reviews. Hell, some LEGO creators are even "investment gurus" that hype up the value of certain retired sets... while also selling their hoarded sets at the high speculative price.

[xyphold]

I hate the ads for male pattern baldness products. They are designed to make people feel shitty for being bald. Most people who try those products never had a chance for them to work. They only work on a few people and the doctors will tell you it'll work even if they know it won't work for you.

[martynkal.]

Funnily enough in the beauty space the advice "if they mention negatives, it's probably a genuine endorsement" doesn't work. Influencers have said before that they might ask a sponsoring brand if they can talk about how (in a video showcasing multiple products from a brand, for example) a particular product didn't work for them, but who it might work instead.

[rugbywindow]

One of the big issues with gambling sponsors was/is that the streamers had large under 18 audiences.

[robemanchester]

I find it funny that you bring up reading reddit posts about products before buying, because I know that's precisely what I do, and what many people I know do. For all the flak that reddit (rightfully) gets, it's at least a place that people go to express their opinions in a much more honest manner (given the post isn't on r/all and they just want karma)

[dbabbc]

The way this video is shot and edited it so refreshing to watch. No background music, and barely any cuts. I don't really know why, but I like the feel of that more than the standardized video essay format.

[lil_cringe]

it's not just about 'don't buy the stuff influencers sell you impulsively'. being bombarded with ads 24/7 also contributes to thinking that you can just buy your way out of everything.
mental health issues? better help
financial troubles? masterworks
no career? brilliant courses
these only sell you at best band-aid solutions while you ignore larger issues with non-stop consumption

[mogator]

"isn't gonna buy your cow ass after getting all that free milk" is a killer line. You perhaps spend too much time thinking about this, but that's just cause it's clear based on your body of work and discussions of ethical boundaries that your knee-jerk reaction is gonna serve yourself and the viewers better than the careful thoughts of most people positioned to turn down ad reads. Ty for the long form content, your cooking music set was great, and I'm looking forward to your upcoming film appearance opposite Bowser

[TheFreeBro]

This was incredibly salient. Extremely captivating, slow paced, seemingly off the cuff, but at the same time well thought out. I’m not just trying to be a goofball when I say that I would definitely enjoy listening to a solo podcast with you just fleshing out your thoughts on anything.

[EtheBizzle]

For me, if an influencer has ever shilled for Raid: Shadow Legends or any mid-tier app/game, I’m pretty much forever going to ignore any products they try to hype up. From that point on, it’s evident that they’ll be a spokesperson for anything so long as there is a check involved. At that point, their endorsement carries zero weight in my book.

[ClassicMiddleton]

Seriously though, the amount of times adding "reddit" to a product review search on Google has helped cut through the bullshit. Great insights, Shaq, and well spoken.

[MrInsdor]

I diaagree with the notion of advertising something harmful isn't any different
You as an influencer have a connection to your audience a billboard won't have
also keep in mind your audience might still be young or have a past with a relevant addiction

[devanbrowne]

I swear they should show this video in schools. I'm constantly impressed by how clearly, cleanly and level-headedly you present your ideas. You make legitimate criticisms without ever being dismissive or disrespectful.

[chandlermiller]

This is the longest-winded ad for a weird water bottle I've ever seen.

[GadBoDag]

Damn, you got to Free Beer level? You made it, bro.

[legatus]

My general rule of thumb is never buying anything I get advertised to. Unless the content creator I'm watching has proved his integrity before, I won't even give a second look to the advertised product

[heroclixrz]

That Pedro Pascal ad was super weird. I think that's the only time my partner and I sat through a random ad we could have skipped. Guess it worked. No way I'm gonna play that garbage tho, already forgot what it was called.