Influencers are Suffocating the Social Network: Rant

The current social climate is exhausting it’s no wonder people don’t have the time or energy to be themselves. If it weren’t for TIK Tok diagnosing you a personality with each ebb and flow of the trend cycles… would you even have one at all? This past week I got fed up with scrolling on my for you page only to hear the phrase “let’s bring this back” or “what are we wearing this summer” only for the videos to turn out to be ads for fast fashion on the Tik Tok shop. I can’t afford these fads anyway and I certainly don’t wanna be sold items by people who get them sent to their doorstep for free. I understand that it is in their job description to influence the masses, and yet I don’t really seem to be influenced or interested for that matter. The reality is however that this isn’t anything new, we’re just becoming more aware that we’re being sold due to the extreme wealth discrepancies between influencers and us “influencees” online. Perhaps this feels so vexatious due to the increased tolerance of conformity and mediocrity within the app.

It feels like I’m watching infomercials on repeat when I just wanna see fan cams of my celebrity crushes, so I have just stopped engaging in that content all together. Why is it that on an app that praises creativity and idiosyncrasy we are pushed the opposite? Why do so many of us search online for a ready-made identity, rather than embracing the depth and uniqueness of their own? It is obvious from social media that this generation yearns for both societal nostalgia and progression at the same time, and those two trains are taking off in opposite directions leaving us behind; stuck in the same place; unable to move forward. This goes for fashion, political ideology, sociology, music, and every other topic that trends on Tik Tok. We so desperately want the freedom to be ourselves and yet crave the approval from others creating a police state online; monitoring and observing others as a form of self-expression.

One week, influencers are dismissed as privileged and dull; the next, they’re praised for the same traits. One week, everyone is boycotting fast fashion brands; the next, that’s where “we’re” shopping for summer. The pendulum swings so fast, I’m getting whiplash. Rather than trying to follow the internet’s moral compass, how about we try following our own for a change. I understand that trend cycles have been around for ages, but they have never spun this fast before. Of course, you don’t have to follow these trends—but the relentless push, funneled through every mid-to-late twenty-something in NY and LA, is downright suffocating. Influencers are suffocating the social network in a way, and honestly? A lot of people, myself included, are officially over it. There’s no single path to living a fulfilling life, so why does our feed keep serving up the same cookie-cutter influencers? It’s as if these select few have been crowned the divine feminine guides of the internet, subtly shaping our every move.

We are living in a time of uncertainty, where many feel lost and confused about the future, grasping at straws for a sense of universal understanding. In response, we retreat into conformity and a scarcity mindset, believing our access to opportunities is limited. But in reality, the world is at our fingertips online—so why choose to confine yourself to comfort and mediocrity? Go beyond the constraints of mainstream media and find your own community.

During my past few scrolls on Tik Tok I have noticed a surplus in creators acknowledging that they are going to begin posting like and influencer not because they want to be one, rather they want a chance at the same opportunities influencers have access to. Do you know what I’ve seen? More creativity and individuality than ever before—people genuinely being themselves, pursuing their passions, and having fun because they don’t care who’s watching. And at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter. Like I said, the pendulum swings faster than a gossip-fueled rumor—quit chasing it and start marching to your own beat. Most things are easier said than done, until you actually do them. Live for you before you live for an imagined them.

I truly believe the reason this generation feels so lost is because we have always lived in times of hesitancy. It’s no wonder we cling onto the comfort and promise of the past, especially when it comes to fashion, music, and pop culture phenomenons. However, this is doing way more harm than good because it breeds adults with no sense of self. In order to find yourself and what you like you have to break out of the metaphorical shackles of this capitalistic, consumerism that plagues every form of media we consume. Google pushes you ads before answering your questions. Tik Tok tries to sell you anything and everything by labeling these products made of plastic as a convenience. You can’t scroll on Instagram to see your friends vacation photos without seeing paid posts from people you don’t even follow. Snapchat now personally sends you ads making it seem as though you’re opening a message from a friend. It’s everywhere and we know it’s here to stay, so be mindful of what you consume and how it effects your ability to abstain.

You have full control over what you watch, who you follow, and where your money goes—so why hand over the reins to social media, influencers who are nowhere near our tax bracket and corporate giants? Don’t let them trick you into thinking the only way to live is chasing online approval from a crowd that can’t even agree to disagree on pineapple pizza or a white-boy of the month. Don’t let them dictate your style, your time, or even your sense of self. Take back the wheel. Make your own community. Be your own influencer. You have autonomy. You’re not helpless. Till next time stay flirty, stay thirsty, and stay true to you. I hope at least one person understands where I’m coming from. I mean no hatred towards those who make a living off selling and promoting products, I just wish there could be more integrity in those spaces because it would lead to more integrity within ourselves.

See you soon,

Paige B.