Nowadays most people have a favorite influencer that posts content on Instagram, YouTube, podcasts or other social media platforms. There is definitely an exponential boom of online influencers in our generation. It almost seems like anyone can be an influencer, regardless of industry and content.
Being an online influencer is often confused with having a high follower count versus a low one.
The number of followers may not matter so much when the content that is being posted adds value to those who view, follow and share it. Equal opportunity and accessibility to become an influencer gives users the chance to touch others’ lives and make a difference in the world simply with a camera and the internet. Social media influencers come in all shapes, sizes, skin color, cultures and ethnic backgrounds which creates a positive impact on society because it challenges the traditional definition of “normal” and “perfection.”
This particular and misleading definition of “perfect” has very specific metrics that is not inclusive for everyone.
Today’s influencers are leading the forefront in promoting, encouraging and educating on controversial topics that include body image positivity, racial awareness, gender equality and same sex marriage. Influencers who relate to these minority and niche audiences are making a huge impact on society by sharing their stories and struggles.
More and more people are becoming self-aware and confident in themselves. However, with power comes responsibility. Online influencers have great tools and platforms to speak on. At the same time, they can easily abuse their power. Posting content that can go viral or reach a certain number of users has a direct impact on those receiving it.
The question is: What type of value is it adding to the audience? There are many debates on which and how much of the posts are genuine and accurate. Especially with multiple photoshopping scandals, for example, fit and muscular bodies are edited onto a leader’s health and fitness account.
Travel influencers have photoshopped clouds in their images to add a more “aesthetic” and appealing look to their photographs.
In reality, images that are photoshopped make followers doubt the influencers they look up to. Plenty of creative and respectable artists use Photoshop for creative purposes, but the greatest thing to keep in mind in your next scrolling session is to be aware of the content you’re taking in.
Trust your judgment and do some proper research before sharing or applying it to your life. Be mindful of how captions align with an influencer’s real life. Does it align with what he or she is actually doing?
There are common cases where a fan or paparazzi may locate influencers, yet their latest social post speaks about internal peace while traveling a tropical island.
Look for unnatural inconsistencies in photos. Photo editing is an art; however, search for the picture’s purpose and try to interpret the message it is trying to convey.
Are the filtered and edited pictures shared to seek public approval in order to gain self-acceptance? Or is it edited as a form of art to enhance the scene to inspire, motivate or lead the audience? The truth is, there is no real or right answer to this question. Everyone has a right to believe in something. Like Aaron Tippin once sang, “You’ve got to stand for something, or you’ll fall for anything.” And in this social media era, his lyrics ring true.