the power they have is that they can influence opinions

millions visit HackerNews every day

when those people see Fig ad here, first thing they do is check what the people are saying about it in the comment section

now, imagine that instead of real feedback, you're mostly seeing cherry-picked comments praising the product

it certainly shapes your opinion of the product and makes you more likely to try

That makes them merely select, like the janitor. People do commonly use elite as a pejorative stand in for select group, but elite still does mean in some way better or superior, and surely you don't mean to say they are superior in any way than position.

no elite like owning the building the janitor have some keys to