The best spots of the week: September 29, 2023

The problem with checking reviews of products these days is that AI bots or company hacks wrote most of them.

So, companies began to use “Influencers” – people, like the Kardashians – who are paid big bucks to use and tout their products.

I don’t know about you but if Juicy Lucy’s is willing to pay me hundreds of thousands of dollars, I’ll certainly tell you how delicious and nutritious their burgers are.

Now, it appears that in the UK (and probably the US by now too) Big Oil companies like Shell and BP are paying Influencers to try to soften their negative image.

The world is literally on fire this year but if you follow that influencer, s/he will be regaling you with images of them driving and flying to wonderful places without a peep about the effects they’re having on climate change.

So, I think this campaign is really well done. It should cause us to pause before blindly accepting online endorsements of products.

It certainly makes its point viscerally.

And I really like this new ad featuring Idris Elba. It creates a whole new story about Crypto, an industry that hasn’t gotten the best notice lately:

And I wonder how many lives may be ruined now that sports betting is not only legal everywhere, but is actively encouraged by placing betting booths inside stadiums.

Seen this? I’m not sure what the message is, are you?