Hi there. In this regard (making statements about performance in advertising or forums), yes, they are both treated the same and consumer protection is provided by the Federal Trade Commision (FTC) against false advertising. See section 5 of FTC Act:
https://www.federalreserve.gov/boarddocs/supmanual/cch/ftca.pdf
"Section 5(a) of the Federal Trade Commission Act
(FTC Act) (15 USC §45) prohibits “unfair or
deceptive acts or practices in or affecting
commerce.” This prohibition applies to all persons
engaged in commerce, including banks."
[...]
Deceptive Practices
An act or practice is deceptive where
• a representation, omission, or practice misleads
or is likely to mislead the consumer;
• a consumer’s interpretation of the representation,
omission, or practice is considered reasonable
under the circumstances; and
• the misleading representation, omission, or practice
is material."
As you can see, these provisions would apply to all manner of advertising for goods to consumers, be it cars or audio products.
Importantly in this context, FTC put out guidelines that stipulated that bloggers (including forum posts) that receive any consideration (including loan of equipment, discounts, etc) must include clear disclosure of such in their write-up. Not doing so violates the above act. Please see:
https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/bus...tcs-endorsement-guides-what-people-are-asking
"Do the Endorsement Guides apply to social media?
Yes. Truth in advertising is important in all media, whether they have been around for decades (like, television and magazines) or are relatively new (like, blogs and social media).
[...]
Isn’t it common knowledge that bloggers are paid to tout products or that if you click a link on a blogger’s site to buy a product, the blogger will get a commission?
No. Some bloggers who mention products in their posts have no connection to the marketers of those products – they don’t receive anything for their reviews or get a commission. They simply recommend those products to their readers because they believe in them. Moreover, the financial arrangements between some bloggers and advertisers may be apparent to industry insiders, but not to everyone else who reads a particular blog. Under the law, an act or practice is deceptive if it misleads “a significant minority” of consumers. Even if some readers are aware of these deals, many readers aren’t. That’s why disclosure is important.
Are you monitoring bloggers?
Generally not, but if concerns about possible violations of the FTC Act come to our attention, we’ll evaluate them case by case. If law enforcement becomes necessary, our focus usually will be on advertisers or their ad agencies and public relations firms. Action against an individual endorser, however, might be appropriate in certain circumstances."
The entire document is must-read for any forum owner as the liability for them is higher than individual posters.