How to avoid online misinformation, according to ‘hot girl’ TikTok influencer in google ad
Ever heard of hot girlwalks? Or hot girls summer? Google has and wants online users to know a few things about being a “hot girl on the internet.”
“Welcome to how to be a hot girl on the internet to avoid a sneaky little thing called misinformation,” said content creator Eli Rallo, aka @thejarr, in a Google-sponsored video.
The video appears on TikTok’s “For You” page, the platform’s main feed, which features sponsored content intended to promote something of value from a third party, in this case the search giant. These types of sponsored advertisements typically only appear on the platform’s “For You” page and not on the brand’s or creator’s personal pages.
Rallo has been making TikTok videos for about a year, but is also a podcast writer and host. Google’s “hot girl”/misinformation video with her tips has over 30 million views in two weeks.
“These are my rules for being smart and sexy online while avoiding spreading misinformation,” Rallo said before listing three tips.
Some of Rallo’s most watched videos on her own site are her rule lists. She has rules for the “talking phase” of a relationship, rules for the month of September, and rules for a first date – just to name a few.
Google clearly thought they could set up rules to avoid misinformation. Google’s TikTok page has tons of videos with tips on using the search engine, but this particular video was created in partnership with Rallo as a targeted ad that needs to be labeled as such when it appears on the “For You” page.
Rallo’s 3 rules to avoid misinformation and be a hot girl online
Rallo’s first rule: Before you post anything, check your sources on Google using the About This Result tool by clicking the three dots next to the search result. This retrieves information about the origin of the result.
Her next rule is to do a reverse image search on Google to “separate the photo from the shop”, basically to see if an image has been photoshopped or altered before sharing, it also provides contextual information about the picture.
Rallo’s final rule: “Be funny and flirty when using your voice,” she said.
“The internet and social media give us a place to open dialogues, create and share. That is fun. But it’s not that fun and flirty to use our voice to spread misinformation. So think before you post,” Rallo said.
Google’s video seems to be less popular than their typical listings.
“Google is telling me to rely on Google for all my information,” wrote one user with a thumbs-up emoji in the comments. Others in the comments section questioned the timing of the sponsored content, chalking it up to the upcoming midterm elections, and some said Google was “wild” with misinformation.
Google has not responded to requests for comments about the sponsored content that appears on the For You page. TikTok has not confirmed the nature of Google’s involvement in sponsoring the video.
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