Consumer goods giant Unilever , the world's second-biggest advertiser, is cutting ties with digital media "influencers" that buy followers, saying it wants to help make advertising more transparent.
With big brands advertising more on social media sites like Instagram and Facebook, a cottage industry of "influencers" has sprung up, in which celebrities and other popular people earn money by posting about products.
But their audience numbers, which often dictate their fees, can be enhanced by purchasing followers.
