Every day, people are bombarded online with advertisements for new products that promise to dramatically improve their lives. modern tumbler. A sophisticated pot. Miracle cleaning solution. Overrated air purifier. Just click this link and voila! Productivity. happiness. nirvana.
Please don't buy it.
Wirecutter, the Times' product recommendation service, tests a number of products that clog Americans' social media feeds. And while some testers like them, these products are often built on empty promises. In today's newsletter, we explain how e-commerce, a $6 trillion global industry, has become so full of junk.
paid for the sale
Online shopping can expose people to a greasy influencer economy. Influencers often participate in affiliate revenue networks such as Amazon. When an influencer's followers click on a link and buy something, the influencer earns money. This is why people on social media feeds are raving about their 10 favorite things they found on Amazon or talking about how expensive gadgets have changed their lives.
Many influencers have other incentives. It's about brands paying them to promote their products. Some people with large numbers of followers make deals of tens of thousands of dollars per post. Then, when enough people like or share a post, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube's algorithms push it to more people. The result is a plethora of gadgets.
Consider these spin scrubbers sold online as a solution to all your cleaning woes. “The videos imply that these devices stir up a ring of soap suds, removing all the dirt underneath,” writes Wirecutter cleaning expert Ellen Ehrhart.
In fact, these are the worst cleaning tools we've ever tested. Ellen spent six hours cleaning a shower full of soap scum and a sink full of toothpaste using two spin scrubbers popular on TikTok. Water splattered everywhere and often cost her more than $50. Instead, Ellen recommends her frugal $1 sponge.
Products circulating on social media are often manufactured by small businesses and come with unhelpful guidance and poor warranties. This also applies to the Pipersong meditation chair, which is praised as: of A solution for those who sit restlessly, thanks to the rotating footstool.
Well, I tested it. And when I was pretzeling this product with no solid back support or armrests, I thought most people wouldn't find it worth the $400+ price tag.
Even a viral product from a trusted brand can be mediocre. Stanley tumblers are popular. However, it still spills. a lot. Since 2020, the leak hasn't stopped the company from selling 10 million units. Thousands of people flocked to Target to get their hands on the latest trending colors.
As Wirecutter's editor, I take my job of testing and recommending products seriously. I don't want anyone to spend their hard earned money on trash. Here's how to avoid being scammed.
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Search for the product name on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Reddit. Are all influencers saying the same thing? Does what they’re saying sound like marketing copy?
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Look for the hashtags #ad, #spopond, or #partner in posts to see if the endorser is compensated by the brand. If influencers do not disclose their arrangements, the Federal Trade Commission could impose fines.
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Check the influencer's bio or LinkedIn profile for credentials. Is a background in this field shown? Did the authors show testing methods? Do they even have testing methods?
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Read the 1-star reviews on Amazon to see if there are any consistent flaws.
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Check to see if trusted people or publications have also recommended this product.
Not all influencers are sleazy peddlers. Some creators use their expertise to vet products and offer trusted advice. But it's important to spot the differences.
There are lots of great, really useful, well-made, lifelong buys, like the sturdy Lodge cast iron pots and Darn Tough hiking socks that come with a lifetime warranty. Don't waste your time and money on overhyped trends.
Wire cutter details: Our journalists have no financial ties to the companies that manufacture or sell the products they review. Instead, we use a thorough testing process to select the products we recommend. Wirecutter's commerce team may then negotiate fees with affiliate revenue networks.
the latest news
meeting
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Top Chinese swimmers have tested positive for banned substances months before the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. A Times investigation found they were allowed to compete after Chinese authorities secretly cleared them of doping.
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After years of conflict in Myanmar, rebels have scored a victory against the military junta, potentially changing the course of the war.
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Rahul Gandhi, the scion of India's political dynasty, is trying to unseat Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party. He traveled around the country appealing to voters.
Other big stories
Sunday discussion
Does the anti-abortion movement still have a cohesive strategy?
no. When President Trump said he didn't support the federal ban, it was “the most pro-choice position of any Republican presidential candidate in two generations, and all of the largest pro-life organizations continue to take a knee.” ” writes David French of Times Opinion.
I'll be participating in a new Q. and A. series, The Interview, which debuts next week. Ahead of that, I've been sharing some of my favorite past conversations. This was the first one I ever did in my old talk column, and it was with Meg Ryan, the great romantic comedy star. I spoke to her in 2019, when she had been away from the public eye for a while.
Were you satisfied with the work you were able to do as you got older? Would such opportunities have forced you to continue exploring acting further?
I don't think I had the same opportunities in my 40s as I did in my 30s or 20s. Now, I might get some offers, but that's not what I want to do. I have a lot of respect for actors who have great imaginations and life experiences and are able to bring that to the audience. I guess I wasn't one of those people.
Was leaving show business part of accepting the fundamental ambiguity about your career that has always existed?
Nora [Ephron] He used to say, “Just because you have a problem with fame doesn't mean you don't have a problem.”I like my famous self now: I go inside other Not only can you take paparazzi photos of people, but you can also make restaurant reservations.
What did you learn about how power works for women in Hollywood?
I don't think I was able to fully utilize my abilities. When I was in Hollywood, I had a production company and produced movies, and it was exhausting. I kept thinking: What does it mean to have it all? Why is that necessary? Don't we just want to be happy in our independent pursuits?
Read more interviews here.
new york times magazine
Click on the cover image above to read this week's issue.
Book
American pastime: A new photo book celebrates black rodeo culture.
Editor's picks: “Table for Two: Fictions,” six short stories set in New York before and after the new millennium, and eight other books.
Bestsellers of the era: Toxic Prey, the 34th book in John Sandford's Prey series, is a new addition to the list of hardcover novels.
Morning recommendations…
try These Passover Recipes.
clean your baking sheet.
scan Documents on the go.
one week from now
What to watch out for
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Today is the London Marathon.
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Tomorrow is Earth Day.
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Passover begins tomorrow evening.
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The Supreme Court will hear arguments Wednesday over Idaho's abortion ban.
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The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments Thursday on whether President Trump has presidential immunity for his actions surrounding the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
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The NFL Draft begins Thursday.
meal plan
In this week's newsletter, Five Weeknight Dishes, Emily Weinstein suggests easy pasta dishes that you can whip up with ingredients you already have at home. She mixes tuna, capers, and green onions into her spaghetti. Add the olives and walnuts to the penne. Or combine rigatoni with bacon, vegetables, and a fried egg.
