freeload

"freeload"、または"freeloader"という単語をご存知でしょうか？

アメリカ英語のスラングなのですが、いわゆる「たかり屋」のことを"freeloader"と言います。対価を払わずして、タダ（無料）でモノやサービスを得ようとする人たちのことです。

動詞の"freeload"は、"freeloader"からの逆成です。


(CNN) — Fed up with hearing from wannabe-Instagram "influencers" asking for free stuff in exchange for publicity, the owner of a beach club in the Philippines decided to take a stand.

In a caustic Facebook post calling for "help," Gianluca Casaccia, manager and co-owner of the White Banana Beach Club on the island of Siargao, went bananas at a whole section of the blogosphere.

"We are receiving many messages regarding collaborations with influencers, Instagram influencers," he wrote. "We kindly would like to announce that White Banana is not interested to 'collaborate' with self-proclaimed 'influencers'.

"And we would like to suggest to try another way to eat, drink, or sleep for free. Or try to actually work."

Casaccia, who is 40 and co-owns the club with his wife, Manila-born Gayle Villaluz, says his post was a "sarcastic and direct attempt" to discourage wannabe-influencers from messaging them asking for a free stay, free food and free drinks.

"These freeloaders would write 'Hi, I'm an influencer, we like your place, we're staying from xxx February to xxx February, we're three people, you provide food and drinks and we draft an Instagram post and we tag you on our story,'" Casaccia told CNN. "I think it's offensive. I initially thought they were trolling us."
(Gianluca Mezzofiore. Beach club owner rips into freeloading Instagram 'influencers.' CNN. April 6, 2019.)


ネット全盛時代の今日、YouTubeやフェースブック、インスタグラムなどのソーシャルメディアが人々の行動や購買意欲に与える影響が大きくなっています。

こうしたメディアを活用したメッセージ発信によって人々の購買行動に影響を与える、インフルエンサーと呼ばれるユーザーが出現しており、一部のインフルエンサーはそれによって生活収入も得るほどであるとも聞きます。

一方で、頼みもしないのに、勝手に商品やサービスを紹介し、その代りに無料のサービス提供を無心する輩（似非インフルエンサーとでも呼びましょうか）がいるということですから、厚顔無恥にも程があるというものです。