
Influencers are incredibly powerful, but brands need to work with them properly. Image credit: Harrods
This week, the United States' Federal Trade Commission settled its first-ever lawsuit against influencers for not properly disclosing their financial relationship with the product they endorsed.
{"ct":"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","iv":"938af20ab6078502d059e5ec5184bfd5","s":"2335e3a577a63504"}