Influencers

I think there is a progression to a more capitalist style of influence as the posters get more followers. I’m not sure how it works, but Instagram or YouTube will pay the poster on an increasing scale as they gave more followers. Companies will then contact them to showcase their products. If foes change the nature of the posts,

For instance there are two former Great British Bake Off contestants that I follow. Both now have written more than one book and showcase recipes as well as other aspects of their life. I’ve noticed one of them always seems to have new kitchen pans, shows the brand of expensive ingredients and goes on holidays to expensive hotels with her family. I’ll probably soon drop her as someone to follow. Basically, she has ‘Cashed out’

The other one I follow cooks, gives cleaning and green-living tips without showcasing brand names. Staying true to her original self but still making a career out of her Instagram page.

SueDonim

I was pondering on the difference between an influencer and a role model. Are they the same or different things?

Definitely different.

Weird, being influenced by someone paid to do it and doesn’t know you from Adam.

I was being flippant when I said 'malice afore thought'. I just meant they set out with intention to influence people and monetise it.

If you look at historical figures, they have always existed, just not paid. They weren’t roll models as the comparison is too fleeting for that.

I’m thinking of people like Beau Brummell or Lady Hamilton during the regency period.

But they influenced people without intending to. The were not Inluencers. Both were members of a very small social group of other people like them and the majority of the population may have heard of Lady Hamilton as Nelson's mistress. Both of them featured in Thomas Rowlandson's cartoos, but I doubt if the majority of the population had even heard of Beau Brummell.

In the case of Beau Brummell, he was very well known to anybody who read newspapers or took and interest in fashion M0nica, he was definitely a fashion influencer of his day.
www.gentlemansgazette.com/beau-brummell-the-original/

I do not know the name of a single “influencer” . But I know they exist, largely influencing a particular group in society. Just as Brummell and Hamilton existed unknown to many but nevertheless “influenced”.

Brummell definitely intended to influence.

I agree with the sentiment that there have always been stars plugging their brands, (of coffee, holidays, fashion) for which they are paid. Social media has highlighted the most popular brands, and the stars who are most sought after. I always think that we pay extra for the rather shallow branding, so I try to avoid those...and search for unknown, smaller labels. I have a neice who is married to an influencer on U Tube. They have now moved to Taiwan. They have a very unusual way of making a living, not for most of us, but they seem to be happy, and making a decent living out of U Tubing as it is now called. He is a U Tuber, and my neice is an influencer too. So, that is what has subtly changed. Non celebs can now become well known.

It’s just another form of advertising. I don’t watch television with adverts so you can choose not to engage with influencers.

SueEH, I agree. It is just advertising. I don't watch the adverts either, or I turn down the volume whilst they are on.

nanna8

Every time I hear someone described as an ‘influencer’ it makes me feel quite ill. What a horrible, horrible term and I would avoid any person described like this like the proverbial plague. Maybe I am just out of date .

Ha ha yes I hate it too and 'Refuse to be influenced ' !

Rocketstop2

nanna8

Every time I hear someone described as an ‘influencer’ it makes me feel quite ill. What a horrible, horrible term and I would avoid any person described like this like the proverbial plague. Maybe I am just out of date .

Ha ha yes I hate it too and 'Refuse to be influenced ' !

Perhaps much of it is subliminal though - we may think we’re avoiding being influenced, but……

I hate the term influencer. I hope I m never influenced by anyone I have my own brain, I have no problem with people giving me tips, or advice, but influence me, no thank you.

Buying a pop mag, following a musician or group, even dressing similarly, done in admiration is not the same as someone making money out of trying to persuade me I need or want something.
It’s a horrible term
And before someone mentions tv ads I don’t think I ve ever gone out and bought anything after watching an ad, most times I avoid them like the plague.

What a career ! ‘I m going to make lots of money out of persuading people to buy junk they don’t really need’
I d be ashamed if any of my family had a ‘career’ as an ‘influencer’ the name conjures up dishonesty to me because these people probably don’t believe in their products, probably haven’t even used them, it all makes me feel it’s dishonest.
It’s like a used car salesman with the gift of the gab

We are all influenced by somebody though to the way we think politically, the values we live by, the way we decide to buy products, etc. The only difference with the current trend is that today's young people have an easier platform to do this and are up front with what they are doing. As with all things, there are honest sellers of their goods or services and there are those who are sharks. To dismiss everyone out of hand or to declare you aren't influenced by anybody seems strange to me.