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Can fake reviews harm people who never read them?

Imagine a shopper who sees only a product’s average star rating. A fabricated review could still enter that average, even if its words go unread. The effects may also reach competing sellers whose real customers are being compared with invented ones.

3–7 min

Questions you could explore

  • What changes when an unreliable review becomes part of a rating or ranking?
  • Who bears the cost when honest and fabricated recommendations compete?

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Your topic carries over. Record up to 2½ minutes, depending on your plan.

Economics and money

Why can Ireland’s inflation rate differ from your shopping bill?

A national price index combines many purchases that no single household makes in exactly the same proportions. Ireland's Consumer Price Index uses spending weights, so changes in different prices contribute unequally to the overall figure.

4–5 min
Economics and money

What does a free afternoon still cost you?

An hour can be free of charges and still be scarce. Choosing one use means giving up the best available alternative, which is the opportunity cost even when no money changes hands.

3–5 min
Economics and money

How can insurance spread financial risk across a group?

An uncertain large loss for one person can become part of a wider pool of risks. Insurance connects that pooling with a contract and a premium, while the contract still determines which losses are covered.

3–7 min
Can fake reviews harm people who never read them? | Speech Topic | speaking.app