It’s fair to say that I’m no fan of so-called “social media influencers”. I have nothing against them as people, just against what they do and what they represent.
They really bug me for several reasons.
Firstly, the world of social media influencers encourages us to celebrate mediocrity. Not to be too harsh, but most have no real talent and gain popularity through factors such as their appearance, based on attributes like age, body, sex, and race. This, of course, puts some people (particularly minority groups) at a disadvantage.
Secondly, influencers promote a materialistic lifestyle, as the bulk of their income comes from selling things you don’t need through commissions and affiliate marketing.
They tell me what I should have and try to sell it to me. Really, it should be the other way around. I should already know what I want before they try to sell it to me. If I’m looking for a product (say, a printer), I’ll seek out those who have one and have reviewed it. This is how it should be done.
Thirdly, and finally, some influencers can be poor role models (especially for minors) and develop a personality that could be described as narcissistic. Furthermore, they often promote a completely unrealistic lifestyle, distorting our realities of what is considered “normal”. The reality is, influencers belong to the top 1% of people on social media (based on metrics like the number of followers). They are not exactly representative of the general population.
I could go on, but I’d prefer to cap this note for now. I’d also like to say that these issues don’t apply to all influencers. Some influencers, such as those in education, can be a force for good.