Influencer

[IanMcL]

What a purile existence! Someone living a lie, in full view, to try and get copied!

Baaaa. Baaaaaa BAAAAAAA

[TheFamilyCat]

So, what have we learnt from today's UTC lesson?

Buy something because you've seen an advert on the telly: fine

Buy something because you've seen somebody promoting it on Instagram: you're a "weak and feeble minded thickheaded dog turd with absolutely no opinion of your own and no idea what to think or indeed how to think"

Well done class.

[Pstotto]

Just bought some Rossignol skis, I saw an ad for them on the telly.

[NottsClaret]

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[CrosspoolClarets]

The trouble is, compared to traditional advertising, it not only persuades people (particularly teenagers) their clothes / looks are inferior, influencing also persuades them their lives are inferior too, by distorting a view of what’s normal life. Life simply isn’t what it is portrayed as on Instagram but vulnerable teenagers believe it is.

The mental health consequences of this are massive, as shown in the Facebook internal research I posted on page 1. I do a lot of work with mental health charities and hospitals and things are getting dramatically worse, particular female young people.

I do accept though that some influencing is there to try to turn this tide and do the right thing. #MeToo etc. Trouble is, I bet the vulnerable ones don’t follow these people.

[TheFamilyCat]

The trouble is, compared to traditional advertising, it not only persuades people (particularly teenagers) their clothes / looks are inferior, influencing also persuades them their lives are inferior too, by distorting a view of what’s normal life. Life simply isn’t what it is portrayed as on Instagram but vulnerable teenagers believe it is.

The mental health consequences of this are massive, as shown in the Facebook internal research I posted on page 1. I do a lot of work with mental health charities and hospitals and things are getting dramatically worse, particular female young people.

I do accept though that some influencing is there to try to turn this tide and do the right thing. #MeToo etc. Trouble is, I bet the vulnerable ones don’t follow these people.

Traditional advertising has always pressurised people into thinking what they have isn't good enough and they need something bigger and better.

The fashion industry wouldn't exist without convincing people that they need to comply with current trends.

I'm pretty sure the influencers (and I hate the word btw) don't set out to portray some distorted lifestyle and possibly don't think much about their social responsibility.

I would say the only difference now is that people have social media at their fingertips 24 hours a day so the exposure to advertising is much greater.

[Culmclaret]

It is easy to be fogeyish about it, but the world changes and people get their entertainment/information in ways of which we could not have conceived 25 years ago. That said I am sure that Crosspool is right about the wildly unrealistic aspirations these imaginary worlds foster and the harm that causes. Ultimately there is not enough stuff to go round and in future less stuff will have to go further.

[Billy Balfour]

I gave up on Question Time a few years ago when they started giving a platform to the latest Twitter gogshites. It should be our elected politicians, or at the very least election candidates, not 'influencers' or some other nonentity. I don't give a **** about their opinions on anything whatsoever.

[RingoMcCartney]

I would normally ask if people are that easily influenced enough to buy something because someone else wears them online, but then again we live around people that stock up on bog rolls and fight in petrol stations because of what they are told on the news.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

I gave up on Question Time a few years ago when they started giving a platform to the latest Twitter gogshites. It should be our elected politicians, or at the very least election candidates, not 'influencers' or some other nonentity. I don't give a **** about their opinions on anything whatsoever.

A lot of people have no time for the opinions of politicians though, mainly because most of them are career politicians with little experience of the real world.

[Billy Balfour]

Thing is though, we actually vote for them, unlike Twitter gobshites and so-called influencers.

[Billy Balfour]

Anyhow, QT is all the worse for having them on. I'm mean what next - Katie Price on road safety.

[JohnMcGreal]

Anyhow, QT is all the worse for having them on. I'm mean what next - Katie Price on road safety.

I don't know. They had Nigel Farage on about 5000 times.

[elwaclaret]

They do like Driving in their cars

[elwaclaret]

A lot of people have no time for the opinions of politicians though, mainly because most of them are career politicians with little experience of the real world.

Yet kids who ‘influence’ have?
Maybe they are making a better world, or being distracted enough not to see beyond their bedrooms and social groups. Hopefully by the time the next dictator roles over Europe I’ll have shuffled off and influencers can explain it all to them and the world will live happily ever after. Or maybe there will be no national identity within countries to prevent domination…

[Stayingup]

Which all goes to show how bad Social Media is for many people mainly youngsters. Listen to them, watch them and many know very little that would add to their life value. Social Media really needs somehow to be restrained and cleaned up.

[Stayingup]

A lot of people have no time for the opinions of politicians though, mainly because most of them are career politicians with little experience of the real world.

Very true. They are generally useless.
As the saying went - Those that can do and those that can't teach AND / OR become Politicians.

[NRC]

Bordeauxclaret and thefamilycat are the closest amd one was a question, the other a quip!

Most of you are far too narrow in your view of the the variety of target markets Influencers influence. I literally pay influencers about $150k per year to reach out to their audiences, and the same to a media group to amplify content via their channels. Of course, I’m talking in a business context, where surveys show above 80% of c-level or vp buyers are at least influenced by commentators to consider given suppliers, and confirm their purchase destination with positive reviews.

Becoming an influencer is hard work. Bringing it back to the person-to person level, where most of you are reflecting on it one of my own kids spends every minute of available time trying to build a following by streaming. You might get a breakthrough “popular” piece of content, but it doesn’t mean it’s repeatable or sustainable. I have tried to coach her as to how to grow her audience. One piece of my advice was to create a playlist over the top of looped Minecraft content. She didn’t believe me. Her buddy took me up on it and had over a million hits in 3 days. Fluke, but it made the point

It’s a whole new world……..

Oh, and by the way, I’m working on building a digital influencer (i.e. not real). She is going to be called “#digitalSusan”

[Billy Balfour]

Very true. They are generally useless.
As the saying went - Those that can do and those that can't teach AND / OR become Politicians.

Heh. I read that Pol Pot said something similar.

[KRBFC]

Same with all these people on YouTube, they've had to continue to evolve as the years have gone by to ensure they stay relevant.
So they stop doing just gaming videos or unboxing items and they move on to live action videos as well to keep the subscriber numbers coming in.

My son is looking at doing YouTube stuff, he's top 5-10 in the world on various tracks on Forza when he can be bothered but he's finally realised that there are people who will watch him set up and play that game and he's got some others ideas about what to do on there.

Good luck to him, the majority on here aren't aware of the power and money in becoming successful on sites like Twitch/Youtube. Not to mention, becoming successful on those sites can lead to more/bigger opportunities, like Logan Paul the Youtuber who earned millions for boxing Mayweather and sold out stadiums.

[KRBFC]

Also, alot of these Youtube/Twitch creators are real role model for Children today, many of them can/do have a positive influence on young fans.

[Colburn_Claret]

Traditional advertising has always pressurised people into thinking what they have isn't good enough and they need something bigger and better.

The fashion industry wouldn't exist without convincing people that they need to comply with current trends.

I'm pretty sure the influencers (and I hate the word btw) don't set out to portray some distorted lifestyle and possibly don't think much about their social responsibility.

I would say the only difference now is that people have social media at their fingertips 24 hours a day so the exposure to advertising is much greater.

As someone who has been watching adverts for 60 years, I can honestly say I have never been pressurised to buy anything in my life.
I don't think influencers think of anything much, other than themselves.
They can be put in the same category as reality TV, and it's wanna be z list stars.
To anyone of intelligence they are a source of amusement, but to the naive and impressionable, especially the young, they can be very harmful. Even if it isn't intended.

[elwaclaret]

As someone who has been watching adverts for 60 years, I can honestly say I have never been pressurised to buy anything in my life.
I don't think influencers think of anything much, other than themselves.
They can be put in the same category as reality TV, and it's wanna be z list stars.
To anyone of intelligence they are a source of amusement, but to the naive and impressionable, especially the young, they can be very harmful. Even if it isn't intended.

Couldn’t agree more. The number of times I’ve had to open the minds of our kids to alternative arguments and wider interpretations of ‘sound bite’ news is very worrying. The wonderful world of knee jerk reaction.

[CrosspoolClarets]

I don’t dispute there is a lot of money to be made in this but I really wish (not just influencing but life in general) the objective of people is to improve the lives of other people not to earn a load of dosh for themselves. If kids spend all their time on these platforms the question I would ask is “why” and “what do they want to get from it” - the answer doesn’t always lead to happiness because it is usually money or to be liked by others.

But then earlier today I was pondering the famous rant Neil Kinnock did to Nicky Campbell (this isn’t about politics have no fear) - basically that poor people wrote the book on aspiration and it is a good thing. No doubt true but we can aspire to different things, we can aspire to change the world for the better, and then our society should reward people for that financially, which currently I’m certain it doesn’t.

I’m starting to sound like some kind of anti capitalist protestor so I think I’ll go and have a lie down at the back of my office and ponder instead whether to make the long drive over in the storm tomorrow.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

Good luck to him, the majority on here aren't aware of the power and money in becoming successful on sites like Twitch/Youtube. Not to mention, becoming successful on those sites can lead to more/bigger opportunities, like Logan Paul the Youtuber who earned millions for boxing Mayweather and sold out stadiums.

Cheers
He doesn't think a "normal" job will appeal to him when he's older, so whilst he is still living at home and going to school, he wants to give it a go at online stuff.
He's just started part time at Mcds so he can get the money together to build his own PC and get the other gear he needs for online stuff.

If it doesn't work then it's not an issue whilst he's still living with his mum, but at least he's tried it.

[Jakubclaret]

I don't know. They had Nigel Farage on about 5000 times.

& the only 1 who ever spoke any sense!

[kazza]

& the only 1 who ever spoke any sense!

Reckon you might get a few bites from that one.

[Jakubclaret]

Reckon you might get a few bites from that one.

It wasn’t a cast he’s the only politician well 1 of a few who does talk common sense IMO.

[Stayingup]

Heh. I read that Pol Pot said something similar.

Which Pot? Social media wasnt around when the murderous nutcase Pot was. Have to say though his Kmer Rouge did influence a lot of other nutters.

[LordBob]

Best post in a long time and some of the best replies, an influencer is a woke world employee with a made up title.