Influencers are taking over social media. They are people who make videos of their favorite subject — themselves — and hope the video goes viral. Their lives are not all that interesting, so they fake reality like a Kardashian’s plastic surgeon. And the unnaturalness of their alterations sometimes is just as obvious.
For a lot of young people in their late teens and early 20s, being an influencer is a goal and a real career. Both of my kids went through it and my son, up until last fall, was very serious about having a "revenue stream" on YouTube as an influencer. That seems to have subsided now that he is back in school. (He was one of those lost teens during the pandemic who stopped going to school but he did go to work. I was told it's the 21st century and the old ways of college/university are over. He eventually got fired because he wasn't vaccinated. I was shocked but happy when he told me he was returning to school this January.) My daughter, still in school, posts constantly on Instagram to get more followers. She sees influencing as a sideline. It's an illness in their generation. A lot of their lives revolve around their feelings, not facts or appropriate behavior. As a parent, I have found it really hard to counter this, but you always hope they come back to their upbringing. You wouldn't believe me if I told you some of the nonsense I have seen and heard and some of the arguments that have ensued over feelings and social media behavior. Social media is a social harm.
Besides victimhood, it seems like influencers also offer another product: societal decay. Just like sugar and teeth, the viral videos suck away any remnant of decency from both the poster and the viewers.
Facebook has Reels now. Mini videos on all topics, from cutesie babies gurgling their first "DaDa" to a lady with a bodacious butt twerking at the stove cooking for her man. It's my new crack addiction to mental bubblegum and boy, does that seem to reward the pond scum of Influenzas. They get paid by views, comments and shares. Some videos border on child and animal abuse and I'll mark those I never want to see that creator's trash again. Then there are some really entertaining people who deserve more money than the Kardashians, especially that young lady who does spot on impressions of ALL the K's, right down to the voices and mannerisms. https://www.youtube.com/c/YuriLamasbella
"Hoaxers seldom pay a price for their lies, but society does. " this needs to change in a big way. for instance, Jussie Smollet should be doing a long sentence in solitary, as should the reporters who slandered Omar Matteen. the latter chose his target on the spur of the moment after being spooked off his initial target and when he arrived asked "where are all the women?"
I used to be a major workout guy (former college football, triathlete, etc.), and in my 20s would routinely observe newbies doing things potentially dangerous at the gym. I would politely walk up to them and ask them to hold on for a second, and ask if they know what they're trying to do. At this point staff would often step in and help.
Later in life, I had a hip replaced and the rehab unit was in a local fitness facility. After my specialized workout, they had me do stuff on the equipment in the gym. After watching people struggle with equipment and the staff sit and not care... I told my PT, "I'll be in here from now on."
For a lot of young people in their late teens and early 20s, being an influencer is a goal and a real career. Both of my kids went through it and my son, up until last fall, was very serious about having a "revenue stream" on YouTube as an influencer. That seems to have subsided now that he is back in school. (He was one of those lost teens during the pandemic who stopped going to school but he did go to work. I was told it's the 21st century and the old ways of college/university are over. He eventually got fired because he wasn't vaccinated. I was shocked but happy when he told me he was returning to school this January.) My daughter, still in school, posts constantly on Instagram to get more followers. She sees influencing as a sideline. It's an illness in their generation. A lot of their lives revolve around their feelings, not facts or appropriate behavior. As a parent, I have found it really hard to counter this, but you always hope they come back to their upbringing. You wouldn't believe me if I told you some of the nonsense I have seen and heard and some of the arguments that have ensued over feelings and social media behavior. Social media is a social harm.
A friend of mine said, many years ago, "I suspect a lot more offense is taken than is given."
Besides victimhood, it seems like influencers also offer another product: societal decay. Just like sugar and teeth, the viral videos suck away any remnant of decency from both the poster and the viewers.
At least the young woman had the decency to apologize and realize how she overreacted. Let's see more of this.
Facebook has Reels now. Mini videos on all topics, from cutesie babies gurgling their first "DaDa" to a lady with a bodacious butt twerking at the stove cooking for her man. It's my new crack addiction to mental bubblegum and boy, does that seem to reward the pond scum of Influenzas. They get paid by views, comments and shares. Some videos border on child and animal abuse and I'll mark those I never want to see that creator's trash again. Then there are some really entertaining people who deserve more money than the Kardashians, especially that young lady who does spot on impressions of ALL the K's, right down to the voices and mannerisms. https://www.youtube.com/c/YuriLamasbella
"Hoaxers seldom pay a price for their lies, but society does. " this needs to change in a big way. for instance, Jussie Smollet should be doing a long sentence in solitary, as should the reporters who slandered Omar Matteen. the latter chose his target on the spur of the moment after being spooked off his initial target and when he arrived asked "where are all the women?"
A generation influenced by scantily clad, vacant headed women is headed for disaster.
It certainly doesn't help when the Biden invites some of these oddball freaks into the White House to boost their sick agendas.
Those influencers remind me of Andy Warhols saying that "in the future everyone will be famous for 15 minutes".
Don, I'll add that you've nicely captured the role of victimhood in being an influencer. It gets you more likes.
As the degeneration of society continues in this world, those that produce nothing are nothing.
I used to be a major workout guy (former college football, triathlete, etc.), and in my 20s would routinely observe newbies doing things potentially dangerous at the gym. I would politely walk up to them and ask them to hold on for a second, and ask if they know what they're trying to do. At this point staff would often step in and help.
Later in life, I had a hip replaced and the rehab unit was in a local fitness facility. After my specialized workout, they had me do stuff on the equipment in the gym. After watching people struggle with equipment and the staff sit and not care... I told my PT, "I'll be in here from now on."
Superb. Can't wait to read what Don has to say about Walker the Pfizer Mengele Maniac!