Yes, I'm fully aware that advertising brainwashes people. The reason corporations and governments pay huge amounts of money is that it works. When people hear the same thing, over and over again, then the human brain believes it. This is how religions operate as well.

I don't see anyone calling to stop church attendence and outlaw religions because they work on the same principle.

Yes, of course, most people are unaware they about being manipulated. In a broader scence that is the fault of the culture they are reared in. If you grow up in a culture that tells you that you have to do everything possible to be successful, and that influencing others is a good thing, then you can't blame some for going according to that.

Americans, particularly, are in love with their influencers, their pastors, their politicians and creeds. All of these use soft brainwashing techiques.

It's not only social media.