• About Us
  • Episodes
  • The Big Story+
  • How to Listen
  • Contact
  • Frequency
  • About Us
  • Episodes
  • The Big Story+
  • How to Listen
  • Contact
  • Frequency

When Instagram influencers are paid to get political…

December 3, 2019
|
Jordan Heath-Rawlings

In their Instagram ads, these hip, young city dwellers are overjoyed at the idea of a new transit line connecting them with neighbourhoods they've yet to visit. They're excited for new transit options and they're eager to tell you about it. That's because they're getting paid. The posts are sponsored by Metrolinx, an Ontario crown corporation, to endorse the controversial new Ontario Line, which would cut through some of Toronto's East End neighbourhoods.

The ads generated a firestorm last week, and some of them have since been taken down by the influencers. But the strategy raises a bigger question: How different is the influencer economy from traditional media when it comes to political ads? What kind of disclaimers should these ads carry? Are they working? And what comes next—for both the ads and the Ontario Line?

GUEST: Ben Spurr, transportation reporter, Toronto Star

https://chtbl.com/track/G9G45/https://rogers-aod.leanstream.co/rogers/thebigstory_dai/tbs_12032019_dai.mp3

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android

Subscribe:

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Google

RSS Feed

Share:

Click here for a transcription of the podcast.

No transcriptions are available at this time.

Back to top of page

Recent Posts

A dam explodes, the stakes rise and the war in Ukraine enters a new phase

June 7, 2023

Canada’s health care system is falling apart. It’s not too late to fix it.

June 6, 2023

The “test case” for anti-LGBTQ legislation in Canada

June 5, 2023

Why you never see an original movie anymore

June 2, 2023

“I found your parent’s Facebook”: The Baby Content generation fights back

June 1, 2023

How dangerous is Canada’s G7-leading household debt?

May 31, 2023

Fire rages near Halifax: “Their house was already burning”

May 30, 2023

LINKS

  • About Us
  • Episodes
  • Contact
  • Frequency
  • Contest Rules

PODCAST FEEDS

  • Apple Podcasts
  • Spotify
  • Google Podcasts
  • RSS Feed

FOLLOW THE BIG STORY

Instagram Twitter Facebook

© 2002-2019 Rogers Media. All Rights Reserved.