> This is it for me exactly. I search for the following kinds of things on Reddit exactly because results on other sites aren't trustworthy: Reviews are secretly paid ads.

So are reddit-comments and entries. There it's even worse, because most people don't connect the content with manipulation.

> The "best" recipe for pancakes is only what's trending on instagram right now.

So, like reddit? I mean every platform has their hive mind, and reddit is even worse, because the hive mind can be manipulated with paid upvotes, not just reposting and comments.

> The same for trending programmer tools.

Aren't most of them yet again commercial products from companies?