The Do-Gooder Ploy
“Hey, wanna collab?” It’s the social-media version of “You up?” but, as our investigation shows, more insidious and may be preying upon your desire to create social change.
By Kaitlin Menza and Illustrations by Laura Callaghan Mar 11, 2021
In October 2020, someone or something slid into Nicole Blair’s Instagram DMs.
“We would love to collaborate with you as an ambassador,” read the message sent by Made With Melanin, a company selling T-shirts, jewelry, and key chains emblazoned with phrases like “Black Lives Matter.” “We would love to share a discount with you for everything on the site.”