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Mohammad Ali Shah

Co Founder & CEO at ... • 22d

Freedom or Fraud? When Marketing Broke a Taboo: “Torches of Freedom” and Cigarettes Did you know cigarette ads used social engineering long before digital marketing? In the 1920s, smoking by women was widely seen as immoral—linked to taboo and prostitution. But Big Tobacco companies wanted that market. So they hired Edward Bernays, the “father of PR,” who staged a publicity stunt: He hired womens to smoke during the NYC Easter Parade. Media was tipped off in advance. The photos went viral (for that time). They called them “Torches of Freedom.” Suddenly, smoking became a symbol of empowerment. Sales soared. The myth worked. 🔥 Smoking = feminism 📈 Sales skyrocketed 😶‍🌫️ Reality? It was a PR trick. We’re still falling for stories like this. Different products. Same playbook. 👉 Lesson? Marketing can sell anything — even a lie — if it taps into emotion, identity, or rebellion. What are today’s "torches of freedom"?

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