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This is no different from any content based advertising - product placement in TV shows and movies, magazine articles, blogs, morning talk shows, and even traditional books have employed the same strategy. In fact I would say some of these other forms are more insidious. PR firms essentially do the same thing for news shows and publications too.

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I agree. I like the FTC's requirement that "influencers" have sponsorship disclosures on their YouTube videos and Instagram posts but it doesn't make sense that the same rules don't apply to other forms of product placement. Movies and TV shows don't have to disclose that they've been paid for the main character to drive a specific model car or wear a specific brand jacket.

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