Online influencers are individuals who have built a large following on social media platforms that have a say in their audiences behavior, public opinion, and cultural trends. Influencers don't only promote products or services, they also shape stories and influence political views.
Some good implications include empowerment, entrepreneurship, and education. Influencers can provide a platform for minorities to be heard and find their voices. They can also turn their platforms into businesses which allow them to promote their own products. Influencers can also educate their followers about various topics from health and wellness to political awareness.
Some bad implications include mental health effects, misinformation, and commercialization of authenticity. Constant exposure to idealized version's of people's lives can lead to feelings of body image issues and anxiety. Some influencers promote products without actually trying them just to make money from it and lead to giving their followers harmful and false information. Also as influencers grow in popularity, the line between people being genuine and just being in it for the money can get blurred which breaks the trust between influencers and their followers.
Influencers affect society as a whole by shaping culture and norms and social polarization. Influencers shape culture by setting trends across the board and they often are the driving force behind what is popular. Particularly, they have a major influence on the younger generation. However, the influence can also reinforce existing stereotypes and harmful behaviors.
Let's talk about the effects influencers have on different segments of society since no two people are influenced the same way. When comparing the rich and the poor, it is important to note that influencers that promote a lifestyle with wealth, may make those who can't afford luxury items feel excluded. Others influencers of lower class, may use there platform to elevate themselves and bridge the gap of wealth. Younger generations are often more influenced by social media trends and influencers, where on the other hand older generations may be more skeptic about it.
Influencers can also have effects on people with different genders and sexualities. The influencer world was female in the beginning. Since it was originally used for fashion, makeup, and lifestyle. Where males are usually influenced in areas of fitness, sports, and food. Many influencers who are apart of the LGBTQ+ community receive both praise and backlash for being open about their sexual orientation as some of their content goes against societal norms.
Minority groups can also become social media influencers as they can create movements and raise awareness and advocate for themselves. Influencers can also face barriers like limited opportunities making it harder for them to succeed in the industry.
Influencers impact me and society on a daily basis, shaping how we perceive ourselves, both positively and negatively. They can be inspiring or cause anxiety. They can also influence how people interact with their families and friends. For example, I see my younger cousins following every Sephora trend and making weekly trips to the store with my aunt. Where, I'm easily influenced by TikTok, constantly picking up new trends and deciding what to buy based on what's trending. If I find something I like, I buy it, and if everyone else has it, I want it even more.
For our generation, social media and influencers are woven into the fabric of our daily lives. The pressure to fit in and emulate the influencers we follow is overwhelming at times, but we also have the power to challenge the norms they set and reshape the kind of content they produce.
Online influencers can be a great thing or not so good. They have the potential to inspire, educate, and empower, but they also can promote unhealthy ideals, create unrealistic expectations, and fuel consumerism. Society’s response to influencer culture will shape how we move forward, and it will require careful consideration of both its positive and negative effects. For individuals, especially the younger generation, the key will be maintaining a critical approach to the content they consume, balancing real-world values with digital trends.
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