|
While the Internet is a valuable platform for news and views, it is also a tool for deceit and demagoguery ... To those who believe the Internet is the most vibrant democracy of all, the following news may come as a rude awakening. In China there is a cottage industry that pays people to act as if they are the voices of the public. I'm not talking about experts and columnists whose opinions are so valued that websites pay them to write. Nor am I referring to public relations notices that tout specific products or services. The people in question extol something not because they truly feel it is good, and they rage not because they are indignant. Rather, they are a hired army of public opinion imposters. A recent report revealed that the going rate for such a campaign averages 50,000 yuan ($7,315). One firm boasted it has the most "experienced team", with access to 100,000 freelancers, that can post thousands of articles on up to five popular forums and blog hosting sites, creating 200,000-400,000 visits. And they guarantee a quick sensation. It seems the current pay for one posting is 50 cents. A typical job posting for this type of work says you can make 40 yuan a day by working two hours, which they say translates to 80 posts. It is my impression this is probably a short paragraph copied and pasted at lightning-fast speed with absolutely no customization. In a September piece, Time magazine reported on a company that pays for "sponsored tweets". It had signed up 7,000 Twitter users. The biggest difference with the hired guns in China is the lack of proper disclosure. | 
