AIBU to ask if you think 'INFLUENCERS' deserve the criticism and backlash they get?

[FloatingForest]

Do you think it is unfair the amount of criticism influences/social media and content representatives get? (pre and during the covid pandemic)

There has been a massive backlash in those who are currently travelling in Dubai/Maldives and posting photographs on social media - I have seen a lot of hate that has been generated - do you think it is a fair response?

Before covid, it seemed that many influencers were ashamed to admit what they did as a living as there is a negative stigma.

Not a journalist - interested in your thoughts and experiences!!!

My grown ass sil follows these influencers but she is a bit of a airhead anyway. I think airheads follow these useless people. I don't like pretentious vain people at normal times. Being a influencer isn't a real job, get a real job you drags and I genuinely hope sm fizzles out soon. I laugh at them as I work in Central London and you see these idiots posing in Mayfair and Knightsbridge with their cloned faces and make ups. I cringe for them when I see them posing for content, how could they be so proud? I think it's rather embarrassing and no, I don't feel sorry at all for these Porta Potties in Dubai. They deserve every shit they get from their Sheikhs or followers.

Lol @ influencer and lol @ people that watch them and are what, influenced?

So are kids aspiring to be some talentless twat on YouTube or tiktok these days?
Tragic.

@PointBreakOrBadBoys2

D'Angelo Wallace has recently made a good video about this on YouTube - I agree with his take that influencers are behaving badly.

Kim K and her island 40th birthday
Rita Ora and her restaurant party
Lana del Rey and her mesh mask
Twatty footballers whose names I can't remember
Various YouTuber / Tikular Tok people parties
Charli D'Amelio in the Bahamas (her parents' fault, mind)
Plus the current lot in Dubai

It all adds up, I think. It shows the gap between the haves - can afford to keep themselves and their families safe and piss about in the sun - and the have-nots, who are furloughed, or having to work in risky environments, or have lost their jobs, or have to home-school and work, or whose mental health is suffering for whatever reason.

I watched that this morning, love D'Angelo.

A lot of influencers have children who follow their every move and take their word as gospel.

Absolutely not. I don’t think it goes far enough and I don’t think they are held accountable enough. From all the ones out in Dubai and Mexico, to the ones who supposedly ‘stay at home’ yet have various people in and out of the house, have BBQ’s, form countless ‘bubbles’ and so on. Yes, Hinch, Solomon and Part Time Working Mummy I am looking at you. But you can’t criticise or ask a question because you are then called a ‘troll’ and 2 of those particular 3 have set their ‘fans’ or people who dare question them. But ‘Be Kind’ 🙄

I haven't got a huge amount of sympathy for their problems or receiving criticism. TBH, to make it as an influencer you do have to have a certain something, not just looks - I have seen some (via my kids) and although it's not up my street (because I'm not the core audience) I appreciate that the successful ones do seem have skill in presenting, in being relatable, or interesting or funny or informative or whatever they are known for, even if I might personally find them annoying!

You don't generally get success just by being a pretty face, you have to have something people want and/or be good at presenting.

Yes, they deserve it. If you act like a twat, you should be called out.

I don’t blame people for being pissed off. Everyone’s stuck at home, cold and miserable and with no hope of going on holiday whilst they flout lockdown and fuck off around the world. Apparently these trips to tropical paradise are “essential travel” because they’re “working”. The “work” is taking photos of themselves in bikinis to promote some swimwear brand or hotel... except nobody is buying swimwear or staying in hotels, because everyone’s stuck at home, cold and miserable and with no hope of going on holiday!

Do what ever you want but don’t if you’re an Influencer don’t says it’s a job!

I’m more sceptical of who exactly they influence. Utterly pointless. To answer your questions yes they do deserve the criticism.

Yes. They promote stuff they don’t even use, the young and impressionable buy that stuff because they believe they will look as beautiful as there photoshopped/surgically enhanced bodies.

Did anyone see Dr Mike preaching to everyone about COVID safety, but then goes on a boat party for his birthday and proclaims that he did his own safety assessment!!

Have a look at the other ridiculous stories -

Yes I despise them!

One of my friends is currently using lockdown to try to become one on Instagram..... It’s nauseating.

It’s up there with MLMs!.

Most of them are just wastrels who provide nothing positive to society. However I don't think piling on folk on social media is on.

I don't think its ok to nake derogatory remarks about people or be mean but at the same time if your job as an influencer is about promoting yourself and your brand/whatever you're selling on social media you have to accept you might get some negative criticism.

A lot of famous people find the negative side of fame , and living in the public eye and being judged for it(understandably) very difficult. And I can understand this more if you are an actress or singer and your primary reason for being famous is your acting or musical talent and being papped or reported on is a downside. But if your primary reason for being famous is because you're on social media giving your opinions on things, it should be obvious that not everyone will think or react positively (although there are obviously ways of respectfully disagreeing with someone, or better still simply ignoring them)
There are probably loads of folks in Dubai that aren't famous. They might also attract critocism if they put it on social media but if they keep it quiet, no one would comment

How people are actually influenced by these influencers is actually way over my comprehension. I’ve got to the grand old age of 53 without being influenced by the likes of them.

It’s the sign of our times I suppose but it’s absolutely ridiculous. They’re not needed, by anyone. I wish they’d crawl back under their rocks.

Of course they deserve it - not only are they breaking the rules but boasting about it on social media too. A close family member is an inflluencer (except he actually has a speciality subject that interests his followers, not just being good looking and pretending he has a perfect life) and he certainly doesn't 'need' to go to Dubai for work.

Influencing is not a job. It may generate money and free stuff (sorry, items they’re ‘gifted’ 🤮) but it’s not a fucking job.

Their brands and messages are toxic in my opinion.

They choose to put their lives and all their life choices online, so should be prepared for people to comment on these choices, good or bad. I suppose it's giving them attention, without which they would effectively cease to exist.

As long as they follow the rules of the country they're in and the rules of this one when they return, I can't get too worked up about it.

Can’t get excited about it. Stupid vacuous people selling a fake lifestyle to other stupid, vacuous, gullible people.

Not sure if that is relevant.. but I think it goes to show how staged social media

Of coarse it’s staged! They get paid to recommend stuff and probably make money on sales.

These are just adverts and are just as annoying, if not more so that the constant cash converters adverts or loan adverts - it’s no different

Except the advertisers hide behind the advert

I don't care enough about them tbh. What they do seems vacuous and dull.

I have spoken to several friends who are business owners who have strong views. They've had very pushy individuals trying blag freebies so they can 'promote' products via their social media channels...

There are a minority of 'influencers' who do seem to be very down to earth, have other jobs alongside, talk about important topics and probably do a lot of good 'influencing' young people. 'Dr Alex' previously from Love Island comes to mind especially.

However, they do seem to be the minority and a lot are quite happily jetting about with no care for anyone else...

Yes those who are in Dubai for 'work' during the pandemic when many people are not travelling an hour away to visit loved ones deserve criticism.

They also contribute to the lack of ambition some young people have and therefore some of the shortages of 'home grown' skills in areas such as construction and several other trades.

I’m not low enough to actually hurl abuse at these people online, I think that’s wrong, but equally I agree that what they’re doing is wrong. I don’t class being an influencer as an actual job anyway so it’s far from essential at a time like this. What I’ve also never been able to understand is why these people treat Dubai like such an amazing place when over there it’s still illegal to be gay and women have only been allowed to drive for a couple of years.

@dillusional

My grown ass sil follows these influencers but she is a bit of a airhead anyway. I think airheads follow these useless people. I don't like pretentious vain people at normal times. Being a influencer isn't a real job, get a real job you drags and I genuinely hope sm fizzles out soon. I laugh at them as I work in Central London and you see these idiots posing in Mayfair and Knightsbridge with their cloned faces and make ups. I cringe for them when I see them posing for content, how could they be so proud? I think it's rather embarrassing and no, I don't feel sorry at all for these Porta Potties in Dubai. They deserve every shit they get from their Sheikhs or followers.

They're making millions. Why would they stop that for a 'normal' job