[zeroonetwothree]

There is no solid line separating ads from other content. What about a positive review for a game? Is that not an ad because the reviewer wasn’t paid? But what if they got the game for free? Or what if their job relies on access provided by the game company (an indirect form of compensation)?

There are many other examples. It’s much more a matter of degree than just saying “ads bad”.

[yjftsjthsd-h]

> But what if they got the game for free? Or what if their job relies on access provided by the game company (an indirect form of compensation)?

Yes, that's a well-established conflict of interest which is why there's supposed to be disclaimers whenever it happens

[endisneigh]

Ironically what you are suggesting here would erode privacy.

[yjftsjthsd-h]

How so?

[endisneigh]

unless you can uniquely identify people such disclaimers would be ineffective and useless. for example what if I were paid to say something? how would you know if I were paid or not? if it's the honor system, then that'll trend to no disclosure to begin with - that's exactly why shilling is a thing, and why it'll never stop.