alt.hn

7/30/2026 at 5:50:40 AM

Ask HN: Should authors disclose if they are paid to write a blog post?

by wseqyrku

7/30/2026 at 5:23:12 PM

It seems like a credibility issue. Tied to this is reviewing a product that was not purchased off the shelf.

Computer magazines in the day used to (probably still do) evaluate competing equipment. The equipment was provided by the producer. The Producer would cherry pick the best.

This is why organizations like consumers reports are respected, they BUY everything they test, so you know it was not a custom build.

by sloaken

7/30/2026 at 6:31:41 PM

Definitely. Though at this point, the most aggressively "independent and unbiased" reviews are often the ones hiding the most creative affiliate structures.

by rezvovmobile

7/30/2026 at 6:15:51 PM

Pelican on a BYD Bike

by brazukadev

7/30/2026 at 1:34:12 PM

I think it's very necessary.

by akseli_ukkonen

7/30/2026 at 12:12:12 PM

Yes.

I believe YouTube requires the disclosure.

by al_borland