Zane argues that companies should be more transparent with influencers about the specific rules and restrictions regarding sensitive topics like addiction during the initial brand deal briefing.

“usually for people listening like influencers when you you do get a brand deal they give you a brief and they give you all the rules and usually if it's a consuming product they're always saying don't promote eating or addiction yes and usually they say that but it did not say it this time”

Mariah Amato argues that companies paying influencers to criticize their own platforms, such as TikTok, are being hypocritical.

“they wanted you to cancel take talk on tick tock while getting paid on tick tock to do it that was the first branch that was the first time that's so hypocritical from that company to do that”

Influencers are being paid to normalize gambling and manipulate media, often at the expense of their younger audiences who may develop gambling addictions.

“So the current meta right now has even moved has shifted beyond crypto gambling or at least like what the crypto gambling casinos have been doing is basically paying creators on every social media platform to consistently funnel people in and also engage in some sort of uh media manipulation as well”

Influencers participating in programs with strict contractual controls and undisclosed funding cannot legitimately claim to be independent.

“If you're taking dark money from a party aligned super PAC sorry you're not independent media.”

Having a large social media following serves as an effective initial trampoline for sales, but it cannot sustain a brand without a superior product.

“I think the fame was a great trampoline jump and I think it was amazing to get that first customer. But till today word of mouth is the strongest form of marketing.”

Zane Hijazi claims that brand deals should only be accepted if the influencer is authentically passionate about the brand or genuinely hates it.

“I would never do that and I would never do that period you know what unless you actually [ __ ] hate the brand then I'm like you know what right right it's right because it's authentic”

Ria Ciuffo expresses concern that if an influencer markets a skincare line based on their own history of acne, the product must use high-quality ingredients that the influencer actually trusts.

“she has been so open about her acne struggles that I I would hope if she's making a skincare line that it's like really great ingredients and that she's actually like trusting them and using them um because she has been so open about her struggles.”

KSI advocates for brands to be creative and disruptive in their marketing strategies rather than using traditional corporate methods.

“we're just destroying them by by doing the wackiest [ __ ] yeah like we got in Prime mascot costumes and shadow box bro you know when you're ever gonna see what Gatorade do that”

Brands should provide creators with autonomy and treat them as consultants for campaigns to achieve the best results rather than micromanaging the creative process.

“let the brand put you fully in charge of the campaign and then use basic sales skills”