To hate social media 'influencers'

[TH22]

Not sure the point of this post really, other than to express my dislike of social media 'influencers'. Am I the only one (and a miserable old fart at the age of 34) or do others not understand their purpose either?

Someone asked me the other day a question along the lines of, what would make me feel like I'd failed as a parent? My answer was 'if my future child decreed that they want to be an 'influencer' when they grow up.

I use insta (yes, I see the irony - but it's limited to bath time), but what I can't stand is seeing so many teenagers either doing irritating dance routines, plugging themselves or products and just generally living life with the sole aim of gaining as many likes and followed as possible. I just don't understand! Kind of makes me feel sad.

I am aware that plenty will say they're doing no harm, but this is just another reason why I get worried the way our future is heading!

Thoughts?

NB - fully aware I may get called old and judgemental!

Btw I've actually never contacted anyone for a freebee or demanded anything or even contacted anyone to ask them to work with me .. The only times I've worked with brands are when they get in touch and I like the brand I've turned many down as I don't like their ethics or products ... It's a shame people using the word "hate" for people they have never met ... I also don't mention my Insta to anyone in real life I only talk about it if someone discovers it .. My mil still doesn't know a bout it 😂

Your post reminds me of a poem by Holly McNish, "Famous for what? "https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Jc0VqwKuJHY

Totally agree with you OP. I really can’t understand why anyone would want to follow some of these vacuous, self obsessed wannabes who constantly post duck faced selfies and other pictures of themselves. I started an Instagram lately (solely so I can do Instagram competitions) and was immediately followed by a relative whose 20-something daughter is a low level influencer. Every photo was one with her arse and tits in front of the camera. Just why??

I think that people deserve to get paid for doing a job. Some of them put a lot of time and effort into making entertaining posts. Unless you're prepared to pay a subscription for their services then they need to make their money somehow.

I’ve always thought influencers were shallow and will plug anything for a buck. This was confirmed by their involvement in the Fyre festival fiasco.

I'm not a fan but I barely come across it, and don't follow them.

I don't begrudge people making money that way, good luck to them. I'm sure it takes time and some talent to create a brand/take decent photos/edit videos etc.

I think the influencer culture is vile. It is all utterly fake and manipulated, everything is for the 'gram. Yuck.

The ones that hawk their own babies and kids on there are the lowest of the low imo. Those children are basically living a Truman Show type existence with no choice in the matter!

Also influencers manipulating engagement by asking their followers how they are, saying how much they love them etc. Lunacy. Oh and the fishing for gifted items, humble brags and pretending to be just like us when they're living in million pound houses...

The utter lack of any safety for themselves and their families too. So many of them have their home addresses registered at Companies House, or basically advertise where they live. I wouldn't be so cavalier with my personal information particularly if I had young children living at home.

They are class A CFs as well. My cousin designed and made a really established brand of headwear and has influencers after her stuff for free all the time. She is polite about it but has made her name from branding herself and her nonsense and down to earth business. She has not used influencers just happy customers

I don't mind influencers particularly and if they are able to make money then fair play to them. I do find though after a while they just become too samey in their posts which gets boring. Or they end up as an ambassador of something and preaching about some worthy cause which also gets a bit tedious.

I agree and I detest all the pouting from such a young age as well. Getting off subject here but I dislike all this sassy fashion for little girls even Asda tonight was more like RIver island maybe the best way to describe this fashion is the look of a LoL dolls. Why can’t people keep little girls little girls or boys for that matter anyway rant over and I’m 35 so maybe I’m getting old on my ways 😏

What I don’t understand is how every person is now a ‘Public Figure’. I was looking at one of the girlfriends of the dance group Diversity and she has listed herself as a ‘Public Figure’.

@Jojobar

I think the influencer culture is vile. It is all utterly fake and manipulated, everything is for the 'gram. Yuck.

The ones that hawk their own babies and kids on there are the lowest of the low imo. Those children are basically living a Truman Show type existence with no choice in the matter!

Also influencers manipulating engagement by asking their followers how they are, saying how much they love them etc. Lunacy. Oh and the fishing for gifted items, humble brags and pretending to be just like us when they're living in million pound houses...

The utter lack of any safety for themselves and their families too. So many of them have their home addresses registered at Companies House, or basically advertise where they live. I wouldn't be so cavalier with my personal information particularly if I had young children living at home.

That’s true- I have been lurking on another couple of forums and there are some right stalkers around who had been searching for people on companies house and then dropping big hints as to where they live.

Tattle is worth a read sometimes

Complete transparency, I'm a content creator and blogger. It's a hobby for me.

I don't consider myself an influencer at all, I have a small following. However, because of what I do I have a bit of an insight into what it's like to be in that line of work as a mid sized creator (10k-50k following) and it's bloody hard work.

When done correctly it is genuinely a full time job. The perks can be incredible I won't lie but it's not easy. Influencing is just a modern form of advertising.

I have only been paid for work once, the rest of the time I have received products to review or create content with which I'm more than happy with because like I said, it's a hobby.

If it were my actual job though I can imagine it wouldn't be as fun.

There are so many things to consider. Time spent, equipment used, editing etc and it's hard to get into.

Having said all of that I'm not easily influenced at all so I think I look at things differently.

Also, anyone who advertises skinny teas etc can get fucked. No one needs to be influenced to buy those.

I can't stand it, so banal & pointless. I loved insta before FB monitized it, no longer use it.

Tattle intrigues me.

On the one hand: there are some truly vile comments on there, some stalker level investigations of people and tattlers clearly hate-following or being seriously over invested in someone they claim to dislike - so why bother?

On the other hand: a lot of the posters are concerned about lack of privacy and how foolishly open influencers are with their info, they are people pissed off with being sold to, who can see the fakery and manipulation and the lack of reality and they rightly call it out. They have a right to their opinions. Not all of the comments on there are bad.

I think they can be incredibly mean spirited but I have no issue with the baseline position of the site being less than gushy and worshipful. It's healthy. Also all these pastel clad dreamers touting kindness block criticism to manipulate their feeds and are perfectly capable

of bullying others or facilitating the bullying of their own followers and followers of others, ganging up on each other, cutting each other out and turning their followers on critics and refusing to call them off. To some degree (not entirely) they're being cheeky to call out Tattle- they just don't like that they can't gag it.

@MrsToothyBitch

Tattle intrigues me.

On the one hand: there are some truly vile comments on there, some stalker level investigations of people and tattlers clearly hate-following or being seriously over invested in someone they claim to dislike - so why bother?

On the other hand: a lot of the posters are concerned about lack of privacy and how foolishly open influencers are with their info, they are people pissed off with being sold to, who can see the fakery and manipulation and the lack of reality and they rightly call it out. They have a right to their opinions. Not all of the comments on there are bad.

I think they can be incredibly mean spirited but I have no issue with the baseline position of the site being less than gushy and worshipful. It's healthy. Also all these pastel clad dreamers touting kindness block criticism to manipulate their feeds and are perfectly capable

of bullying others or facilitating the bullying of their own followers and followers of others, ganging up on each other, cutting each other out and turning their followers on critics and refusing to call them off. To some degree (not entirely) they're being cheeky to call out Tattle- they just don't like that they can't gag it.

That’s a very good summary of where I am with it. The stalkers are dangerous creeps but there is a lot of good investigation and truth being revealed on a horribly murky world.

But why do people buy the tat they are shilling??

I think it largely depends on the influencer in question, some are showing the perfect image and unhealthy habits, but others are pretty down to earth. My DD and I watch a little bit of insta stories each day, but we talk about the things that come up and whether they are realistic or not, what happens in real life and how many times they are paid to say what they do. There are some out there promoting some really important and healthy positive messages.

I always find it strange that adults reply to a celebs post writing about their whole life story as if they are going to engage is some sort of conversation.

Yes or when somebody asks for recommendations ie preparing an ad & people suggest things. I think some people see them as friends

@lolorolo I sometimes get ideas or find brands through influencers or insta ads. Sometimes they correllate with other advertising I've seen over time and real life encounters with brand/product users so it fits into a picture I'm building up.

I usually do my own research on brands and items and consider things for awhile anyway. I'm fussy- exacting and considered a lot of the time so it really has to be something I like the look of AND can justify or I'm not interested. I usually only look into things that I've been interested in /fit a brief for something anyway, I don't have cash to get new random stuff all the time. I think only once have I seen something on an insta and HAD to have it. Same as if it had been in a shop window on the high street or I'd spied it on another lady and loved it. I wanted it because I knew it was the one!

I don't mind influencers making genuine recommendations- eg one influencer tries skin care products but is open about her own normal routine and what she likes for real. She is honest about what she has continued to buy after a #gift and why. I found her whilst looking for a skincare review.

I'm cynical I guess & just don't find them authentic in the main. It's like the ones who only ever wear designer clothes & then bring out a clothing range that they wouldn't be seen dead in. Or someone who loves a product so much but forgets about it the next week.

I hate vacuous celebrity world. Fame for no real reason or life achievement.
My ambition as a teen was to be well known and highly regarded in my field. Being famous is a rubbish aspiration and relies on others, hoping your mental health comes out intact! I hate it and cannot understand why someone would be “influenced” by people who beg companies for freebies.

@lolorolo

But why do people buy the tat they are shilling??

It's not all tat though. Loads of them affiliate link to stuff you would buy eg Boden, joules, H&M, ASOS, Amazon.

That's the most sneaky part. Or the "loads of you asked where my top was from swipe up" this placing a cookie on your browser. Or the teeny #gifted hidden at the bottom or on a white background. I did call someone out on that - blocked immediately . If you're making money just own it and be honest about it.

Or the "looking for recommendations" aka looking for a freebie.

@hopeishere well those shops do sell some tat tbf. But I still don't get it, why do you want a H&M dress that has been seen on 4 influencers? I think insta kills trends before they even make it to the mainstream!

I used to do some social media posting for a company I worked for & they had lovely products but if we sent a pair of trousers to a certain influencer their fans would buy the exact same pair not even a different print, the exact same. I could see from the history they hadn't even visited the other web pages just that one.