NOTHING reveals how carefully people have read an article quite like the comments underneath it.

Following The Irish News’ front-page report that restaurants in Northern Ireland have been asked to pay up to £2,000 for positive reviews, there was quite a bit of criticism from food influencers.

Yet the story never claimed that every food creator charges businesses, nor did it suggest there is anything wrong with making food content or earning money from it.

Indeed, there are plenty of people running food accounts simply because they enjoy eating out and want to champion local businesses. Many put considerable time, effort and their own money into doing so.

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The issue is not really that some influencers are paid. Although I........

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