Oil Companies such as BP, Chevron, and Shell pay social media influencers. Here's why

 Oil companies paying influencers to promote fossil fuels among youth; targeting young people on social media to increase revenue and build 'social capital

Oil Companies such as BP, Chevron, and Shell pay social media influencers. Here's why

 oil firms pay influencers to promote fossil fuels among young people. According to AFP, youthful celebrities who are most known for uploading content on video games, dogs, and holidays are unexpectedly promoting petrol stations, fuel rewards, and club cards.

Investigation :

The investigation uncovered examples involving big oil firms such as BP. Chevron, ExxonMobil, Shell, and TotalEnergies pay people to promote fossil fuel products on social media sites such as Instagram, Tik Tok, and Twitch in India, Mexico, South Africa, and the United States. Another study conducted by the news site DeSmog discovered more than 100 influencers who were paid to promote oil and gas firms.

Oil corporations react: 

"ExxonMobil, like many companies, works with influencers to educate consumers about the full benefits of our fuel rewards program," said ExxonMobil spokesperson Lauren Kight.

Furthermore, an unidentified Shell spokesman stated that the business promoted its low-carbon goods through advertising and social media, but provided no examples.What is the purpose of oil companies paying influencers? 

According to the AFP story, which cited analysts?

 companies are targeting young people on social media to raise revenue from oil and gas-based industries, with many governments pursuing cleaner alternatives to fossil fuels to curb global warming. 

Melissa Aronczyk, a communication and information

 professor at Rutgers University, described the rationale for such campaigns, stating that many young people are aware of the importance of the climate crisis and have a bad perception of fossil fuel businesses, who are now attempting to build'social capital' with these audiences