At it's heart advertising is about informing potential customers about products or services [1].
One aspect you've missed though is the free-versus-paid dimension - here the competition is between people creating links, versus paid for promotion.
You could argue that reflects the value perceived by the paid or free 'customers'. However I think in the area of politics and ideas there is a dangerous imbalance - because of the power of professional promotion.
In essence common sense is being drowned out by paid agendas - because of the difference in impact a paid professional can make.
[1] Let's ignore all the dark arts aspects for now.
At it's heart advertising is about informing potential customers about products or services [1].
One aspect you've missed though is the free-versus-paid dimension - here the competition is between people creating links, versus paid for promotion.
You could argue that reflects the value perceived by the paid or free 'customers'. However I think in the area of politics and ideas there is a dangerous imbalance - because of the power of professional promotion.
In essence common sense is being drowned out by paid agendas - because of the difference in impact a paid professional can make.
[1] Let's ignore all the dark arts aspects for now.