Before 2016, this was an easier question to answer. Simply put, you could search for a social media website like Reddit’s r/drugs or r/noids and the name of the company and product you were interested in, and you would be given a long list of posts about that company’s interactions with their user base. This allowed for a thorough evaluation of each research chemical website and for users to make informed purchases.
However, in 2016, there was a sudden purge due to the belief that ‘fake news’ articles were having a significant impact on the election, with regulators generally believing that fake news assisted Donald Trump in winning the 2016 election.
1. Social media giants such as Facebook and Google wanted to avoid regulation, so they decided to regulate themselves to prevent clumsy government interference on their platforms.
2. A part of this change was a sudden crackdown on ‘drug sourcing’, the advertisement or perceived advertisement of companies selling legal and grey market drugs online. In 2016, 62% of American adults got their news from social media, with 34% of these trusting social media as a news source. This means around 21% of Americans trusted social media as a news source and got their news from it.
3. Confirmation bias played a strong role, with both Republicans and Democrats being about 15% more likely to believe a headline that coincided with their preexisting beliefs.
4. Satirical websites like the Onion and others were often tossed into the bin with the fake news sites, and anything that didn’t conform to the mainstream narrative was on the chopping block.
5. This is despite trust in mainstream media being at an all-time low, with over 60% of Americans distrusting mainstream media sources in 2016.
6. In reality, most fake news sites are simply clickbait journalism aimed at going viral on social media with catchy and controversial headlines. Any Republican slant was believed to be due to the Republican voters’ general distrust of mainstream media being slightly higher than that of Democrats. The average individual was exposed to and remembered only 1.14 fake news articles in the election cycle.
7. In fact, usage of Twitter and Facebook dropped 23.4 and 8%, respectively, between 2015 and 2016, believed to be due in part to their crackdown on free speech on their platforms.
8. With a user base of 1.8 billion, Facebook saw an exodus of users around this period rather than a sudden increase in people using it as their primary news source.
9. These changes led to the social media giants becoming arbiters of truth in the election cycle. With the predictable result, those with alternative views to mainstream propaganda were labelled as ‘fake news and liars. Both the Republican and Democrat parties generally refer to and continue to refer to each other’s social media posts as ‘fake news’ as it has become a political tool used with their customary overzealousness whenever they find a new tool to push their agenda. One recent example is Hunter Biden’s emails exposing his influence-peddling with Ukraine, Libya, and China, which were later proven to be true, though this story remains censored on most social media platforms.
So what is a drug enthusiast to do? How do we avoid being scammed? Where can we get safe information?
Now that the election hype has died down, there are new places to look for reviews outside of the social media sphere. This is because not all website hosting services are located in the USA, and not all are owned by Big Tech, which probably has valid concerns about government oversight.
To avoid being scammed, there is some general advice that applies to this user base as well. Avoiding sellers who approach you on social media sites like Reddit, Wicks, and others is one strategy; the majority of the time, they are scammers. Avoiding giving your credit card information to untested sites can be another strategy.
Stay Informed
Finally, stay informed about the latest developments in the herbal incense industry. Follow reputable sources of information, such as industry publications and regulatory agencies, to stay updated on emerging trends, regulations, and potential scams.
By staying informed, you can make informed decisions and protect yourself from falling victim to online scams. In conclusion, safely buying herbal incense online requires diligence, research, and a healthy dose of skepticism. Remember to trust your instincts, do your homework, and prioritize transparency and legitimacy when choosing a vendor. Happy shopping, and may your herbal incense experience be both relaxing and scam-free!
