We checked in on the pay-per-tweet service Magpie, in which people online agree to turn over their personal Twitter accounts to let ads run. The ads aren’t disclosed. They look like genuine opinions from these people. These people get paid (a little) as messages are transmitted to thousands of online followers. Brands like Apple, Skype and Flip are participating.

Is this cool? Do such paid insertions in conversations break trust, even if “sponsorship” is disclosed, if the recipient can’t tell the source of the opinion?

If we told you the Flip camera is the coolest little device, would you now believe us?

Do you see the problem?