Now, people’s shopping routine is changing from buying offline to buying online and more and more people buy their goods advertised through social media. If we are living in 90’s and early 00’s, we may doubt about the authenticity of the products, but now we are advanced, and people can see the reviews of people who bought the products before. But is it actually reliable?

Recently, Fox TV reveal that companies recruit Facebook star for diet, supplement programs to advert and hire people to write good ‘feedback’ on page.

One of dominant and frequent method has been using social media is Multi-level marketing (MLM) — a trend that experts say has helped fuel the U.S. dieting industry’s growth to an estimated $64 billion value, the latest data available from research firm Marketdata Enterprises

Many people get information of diet products through friends on social media who are then compensated by the company whose products they’re promoting— the basis of MLM, or network marketing.

But because the regulation of weight loss products and their often obscure ingredients is not strict and often products selling on social media is categorised as food not medicine, many registered dieticians question whether these programs offer more than what can be attained from any other supplements already been on off line market. Also other worry is weather customers review is worth to believe or not, and if it is not believable, what we need to check before we purchase something from online.

Many marketing companies now pay for people who has many follower on social media as an ambassador to promote their product on their social network then acts as people’s adviser.

Recently, one of ‘beauty guru’ on Instagram reveal that she gets paid by promoting weight loss product on her Instagram and the products has to be shown certain amount of time of her social media in her contract. She didn’t mention exact amount of pay she get, but she said that income covers her student loans and mortgage. The problem she highlighted is she have never used that profits before and she only use their product when she is posting picture or video on her Instagram

“I know it is bad especially for people who highly trust me and buy stuff because of the reputation I put on my social media, but I never force them to buy it. It is obviously their choice.”

However, she is neglecting how powerful she can be when it comes to the fact that people cannot see products on shop selves and the only thing they can trust is other people’s review. and how it sounds fascinating when people I want to be saying and posting ‘this is the magic powder which can make you look like me.’

So what do we need to check before we buying products from online if we cannot believe anyone – apparently even celebrities. Well I want to ask you back. Why you trust people’s review over your knowledge of food and ingredients and why you don’t search about the company and what’s inside of products before buying it. Why you don’t want to be actively searching and comparing like you do when you do your everyday grocery shopping. I know it sounds harsh ,but I think if we stop being blinded by the caption ‘I lost 10pounds in 4weeks using this product!’ or ‘Don’t you want to look like me? Take this powder now!’, it is clear and easier to buy right supplement for myself.

Also, company and people who adverts product should be responsible for what they are doing. They should be aware of they become popular because people have trust for you, and once you lose that, it is hard to recover.