What do people think of influencers?

[cavewoman2026]

I feel like my feelings have changed towards them over the years. Yes I like to check out what women are wearing but everyone now seems to dress the same or have extremely curated expensive pieces that were given to them for free. So then it’s not organic and nothing exceptional is being created. It feels like everyone is just showing the most expensive pieces they own to tag the brands to gain popularity (yes I know this is how social media works). For micro influencers I always wonder how they can afford it all? Daily outfits of super expensive clothes, bags and shoes? Is it all on credit cards and loans?

Depressingly I have one or two friends around me that have expressed wanting to be influencers as people are interested in the lifestyle. Who wouldn’t want to go to beauty events, get free clothes and makeup?

I’ve started to explore style from socialites from the past, actresses, rummaging in vintage shops (even on Vinted), fashion magazines. It’s truly what I get my inspiration from these days.

So, do you all still follow influencers or are we moving past them now?

they actually seem to work as anti advertising to me. If I see something I like has been given away for free to an influencer I know longer want to buy it.
so many of them seem to have bought followers too. It’s all very fake

I don't think of them at all.

The marketing term for it is a micro-influencer; research shows that people trust them more than the bigger more traditional influencers - the real stereotype ones being discussed on this thread.

What I wear is quite niche so no, I’m not influencing loads of people; these brands are also niche and know their audience; they are mostly very small and looking for a quick cheap and effective way of generating reach and impressions.

I think it’s all ridiculous really, my cousin does it and she just wants to bag a footballer ! She did get a free boob job though lol

Vogue Runway is my favourite substitute of an actual magazine. There’s no need to subscribe, the photos from different fashion shows can be browsed for free.

Oh yes, I find the travel influencers hilarious. Half the responses to posts are from other influencers! They all follow each other and post to each other to up their follower counts in the hope of being able to have better chances of businesses using them for free holidays and weekends away.

Bit like those working in MLM companies all posting on other colleagues posts to make it seem like loads of customers are praising the product.

I also use influencers in my job so I see both sides; I don’t believe in long-term partnerships as the content loses its impact over time, the same person saying the same things to their same audience…

I’ll work with people maybe twice and after that the effect diminishes. So it’s a constant cycle really of finding new people who can tap you into a new audience who doesn’t know about you yet.

It’s pretty interesting, and it’s definitely evolving over the years. It’s really hard now to make money from it, but people keep trying. They have to give it up eventually and go back to the real world.

Many of them have jobs but you wouldn’t know it because that isn’t what their content is about.

Also don’t underestimate the time, energy, imagination and skills that go into just one post; it can easily be two days work, from concept to scripting to shooting to editing to posting and managing.

It’s actually not for clueless idiots and ‘parasites’ 🙄

I’m very against the ones who are monetising their children. All those families flogging their matching pyjamas or whatever, giving no thought to how their children are too young to consent, and how they may feel as adults looking back at all that shit. I saw one today with an influencer posting a video of her confused and overwhelmed toddler meeting their newborn sibling for the first time - that’s such a personal private family moment, why would you do that?! And to have thousands of randoms commenting on pictures of your child?

What counts as an influencer? I follow a few fashion people on Instagram - they’re often stylists or work/have worked in the fashion industry and they put together interesting outfits. It’s similar to looking through a magazine. I don’t follow people who just show off loads of free stuff but people who are knowledgeable and love clothes.

I follow loads of content creators on social media. Loads. I’m trying to think if any of them post from any particular brands ? Certainly they don’t post hauls as I’m not interested in those. I mainly like to see how they put an outfit together from their existing wardrobe or what they find out “ thrifting”. Quite a few are discussing personal style and how to find it. I have been influenced but primarily by combinations that I can find in my own wardrobe. I did buy some little jeans buttons that I used when I lost weight and I’d like a Kitdo that I’ve seen used by someone but that’s more about styling than purchasing. Looking at what passes for advice on the Style & beauty board nowadays ( “ wear what you love” “ no one cares “ 🙄) it’s a more invigorating environment than here often.

Oh my god, I love this too! But I use WWD to see the shows because the vogue one you have to subscribe to now. I get to appreciate the beautiful clothes and screenshot ones I like and use them to inspire me to create new outfits (from Vinted of course lol).

The bits I can’t deal with are when all a certain demographic of influencers are suddenly hawking the same product - looking at you, Nip+Fab - or they are promoting something that seems against their vibe. This often turns me off the product entirely, as much as the influencer.

My Instagram feed is full of food/restaurant recommendations, recipes, non upf type accounts!
it’s been honed over time.
I’ve seen the shallow false pretence influencers put on, just showing you something with an embarrassingly obvious product placement only to pop up a bit later to say lots of people asked where this little old thing is from and here’s an affiliate link 🫠
It’s just advertising, influencers, I’m not offended by it I just see it for what it is.

Yeah @WinWhenTheyreSingingI had to hit the ‘not interested’ button on about 100 posts about that gross beef tallow face cream (slime) 🤢

Do you think influencers will die out or is it a trend here to stay?
Im the wrong age for them to care about me ( 50s) but I think im generally put off by brands that use them.

There are some people that I really used to enjoy following and like their outfits but now it’s just constant new orders and promotion - I mean when do they wear it and store it all and now it just repulses me (bit strong but can’t quite find the word I’m looking for). I like accounts that are a balance of normal life and fashion but they are becoming harder to find.

I never followed them, so I don't "still follow them". I don't think about them much. Not really interested in being sold to.

It’s not a proper role so doesn’t need a proper name.

It's all a big advert.

Incorrect. It’s a huge part of the marketing strategy for hundreds if not thousands of companies. Just because you don’t like it, doesn’t make it irrelevant. It’s a fucking massive industry.

Yeah it is.

Thats why I don’t understand the constant whinging about it on here. It’s like coming on here crying about newspaper adverts or billboards.

No need to swear so defensively. It’s incredibly irrelevant to me. I thankfully have never had to endure meeting someone who introduces themselves as an ‘influencer’ or ‘content creator’. I would be perfectly nice and polite but would be cringeing inside I am afraid.

There are plenty of 50-something influencers.

I think it's a trend that's here to stay, but influencers will have to adapt and pivot to stay relevant to their audience.

its just like advertising which I avoid

It definitely is. But irrelevant to me too.