Throughout the past few years, online influencers have taken over the internet with the use of social media platforms. These platforms include Instagram, TikTok, Youtube, etc… which allow people to express themselves through their creativity, image, and brand. They have the ability to create a brand for themselves by promoting their passion of interest. Whether these influencers have a small or large number of followers, they are able to use the marketing techniques of advertising, selling, and recommending new products to other people. However, they can connect with their followers on a deeper level whether it is mental health related, their personal experiences, or educating the people on updated news that they feel is important to discuss. Although online influencers have been evolving for decades, I feel that online influencers skyrocketed at the start of COVID-19 in the beginning of 2020, because everyone was quarantined. Blake Chandlee, TikTok’s VP of global business solutions and head of ad sales, discusses how the service and its many tools kept more than 100 million users engaged in lockdown conditions. The people started downloading the app as a source of entertainment and to create content for themselves and others to enjoy during a difficult time period.
Online influencers carry a major role through social media and along with their role comes benefits. First, they are able to make money from being a brand ambassador, posting sponsored content, or promoting products. Someone who is just getting started might earn $100 here and there. While some of the influencers with the largest followings can earn millions of dollars. Although your income depends on the amount of followers and the contracts you have signed, it also depends on the type of content you are posting and the brand you are working for. Along with these brand promotions and advertisements, these influencers are increasing sales for these companies whether it is for a big or small business.
Although there are many benefits from being an online influencer, there are definitely negative components that come along with it. These people are putting themselves online for the world to see their every move. Their life is on display for everyone to judge and leave negative comments on anything they do. Social media has become a toxic environment for these influencers, because it can destroy one’s mental health. Dixie D’Amelio who is known to be an online influencer and took off in her career at the start of 2020 shares, “tea pages and negative comments and checking who's talking about me every day has a big part of my anxiety." This example shows that it doesn’t matter who you are or what you do, but even the most successful influencers can be affected by mental health. Not only does mental health have an impact, but body image has impacted young adults and children when it comes to comparing themselves to one another. Scrolling through social media and seeing all these influencers posting their “perfect” pictures can feel degrading. Facetune is an app where you can edit your insecurities and make photoshop your face or body. From my personal experience, I have learned to not compare myself to influencers, because nothing on social media is real.
Online influencers play a major role in our society, because of how much we depend on social media. It’s interesting to look at the generational differences between my generation and the generation of my parents and grandparents. Especially having my generation growing up with social media, my generation idolizes many influencers such as those that are on instagram, tiktok, youtube, etc… However, my parents and grandparents are not as familiar with any influencers on those social media platforms. Therefore, content that influencers on these platforms may post influence those that are in my generation, however, may have no effect on the older generations. Younger generations are more likely to buy products based on influencer recommendations, as well as consider them reliable. In addition, there are many influencers that have come from nothing. I think this inspires many people who may not be as privileged and grew up in a poor environment that they are capable of succeeding. It takes motivation, creativity, and passion to develop a successful platform. Therefore, I believe that influencers can have a positive impact on those that may not be as fortunate.
No comments:
Post a Comment