Media Expert: Not Every Social Media Influencer Is Qualified to Review Cars

Veteran journalist and media figure Hesham El-Zeiny has stressed that promoting or criticizing cars—or any other products—should only be carried out by individuals with genuine expertise and professional qualifications, not merely those who command large followings on social media platforms. He argued that having a popular account does not automatically qualify someone to evaluate vehicles or point out their flaws.

How Influencers Shape Consumer Decisions

Speaking on his program 'Arabiyati' broadcast on Radio Egypt, El-Zeiny stated that many bloggers and influencers lack the academic or professional background needed to highlight a car's strengths or weaknesses. He noted that despite this lack of specialization, their opinions still significantly affect consumers' purchasing decisions, which could lead to uninformed choices.

Calls to Regulate Promotional Content

El-Zeiny emphasized that regulating the work of content creators—especially those producing promotional material about cars and products—has become an urgent necessity. He called for imposing clear rules and oversight to ensure full neutrality, while protecting the rights of consumers, companies, and brands. He stressed that such regulation goes beyond safeguarding the market to preserving the reputations of individuals and institutions alike.

He added that the absence of a professional framework has led to unverified news about celebrities and products circulating widely on social media. This, he said, demands establishing a legal and ethical structure to govern such activities, ensuring that published content is credible, transparent, and reflective of the true state of the market.