
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":"f52b21ebf21aaf5c98622924a446d168","s":"7dba35cdf62ce92c"}