It’s funny how sometimes we get caught in the glimmer and glam of the world we see on our phones, isn’t it? I was scrolling the other day, as we all do—mindlessly, endlessly—until I realized I had spent the better part of an hour watching someone talk about their morning routine. That’s when it hit me: But this influencer culture is beginning to find its way into the very fabric of our society. It’s doing more harm than good, I can’t help but wonder.
Don’t get me wrong, I love a good skincare hack as much as the next person, but now. The scary part is that influencers have so subtly become our modern day oracles setting the standards for beauty, success, and even morality. They’re many of us who look to them for advice on everything from fitness and finance to relationships. You know the saying, “Monkey see, monkey do,” and in this case, millions of people are imitating the habits of a few people they’ve never met.
Think about it: when did it become the norm to rely on someone with a Wi-Fi connection and a ring light for life-changing advice? It’s a little terrifying when you start to realize how much sway they have—not just over buying habits but over worldviews and self-worth. Remember when Black Mirror (2016) dropped that episode, “Nosedive,” where everyone rated each other and lived their lives according to those ratings? Feels a bit too close for comfort, doesn’t it? The likes, the follows, the comments—they’re shaping our realities.
I’ve been thinking a lot about how influencer culture is affecting our mental health, particularly for young people. But it’s no secret that teenagers today are really struggling with anxiety and low self esteem as they try to live the lives they see online, which are picture perfect and curated. It’s like a modern take on ‘keeping up with the Joneses (2016)’ but the Joneses are now flawless influencers in Bali, while the rest of us are just trying to get through a normal Monday. I recently came across a study from the University of Bath that really hit home: It found that feeling inadequate is directly related to constant social media comparison. Honestly, it makes perfect sense and this is what I think. Influencers creating these impossibly high standards, how could anyone not feel like they weren’t measuring up?
The question of authenticity — or, more accurately, the lack of it — is also there. Have you noticed how many influencers suddenly get a deep love for a brand after they’ve been paid to promote it?
It’s all too easy to get caught up in the dreamy landscapes, the candid smiles, and the seemingly effortless lifestyles without realizing that much of it is a carefully constructed illusion. There’s a popular saying: “All that glitters is not gold.” And isn’t that exactly what’s happening here? We’re being sold an illusion—one that’s often designed to keep us consuming more, wanting more, needing more.
Speaking of illusion, how about the documentary Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened (2019)? If you haven’t watched it yet, it’s worth a look. It’s the perfect example of how influencer hype can spiral out of control and lead to catastrophic outcomes. Fyre Festival was a disaster—a festival sold through glossy Instagram posts by influencers who probably never even looked into what they were endorsing. And the result? Cheese sandwiches and no accommodations on an island. A perfect metaphor for the pitfalls of this influencer driven culture, with a pretty face on top but an absolute mess underneath.
And don’t forget the rise of “influencer scams.” Take for example some of the biggest names in the world like Kim Kardashian or Jake Paul, who have been the target of backlash for promoting cryptocurrencies or other dubious products that cost people their money. It’s a reminder that just because someone has millions of followers doesn’t mean they care about our best interests. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. The sad thing is though, we keep falling for it, again and again.
The bigger problem, I think, is that we’re forgetting how to connect with real people. We’re more into watching someone’s pre-recorded Q&A than having a heart to heart with a friend. We’re not as invested in sharing a meal with our loved ones as we are in seeing what our favorite influencer had for dinner. Social media is just a highlight reel, and no one’s life is as perfect as it seems in those 15 second clips or perfectly edited photos.
This pressure to be ‘on’ is also being created by influencer culture. Life is no longer about experiences for experiences, it’s about creating content. It’s a need to make any outing a ‘Instagrammable’ occasion, whether it’s a vacation, a family outing or even a simple brunch.
Does it ever make you wonder if we’re missing out on the real moments? Life doesn’t always need a filter, and not every experience is meant to be shared. Sometimes the magic is in the quiet moments—moments that don’t get documented for likes and shares.
I think one of the most powerful examples of the downsides of this culture is the movie Ingrid Goes West (2017). It’s a dark comedy, but it really paints a vivid picture of how obsession with influencers can spiral into something toxic. The protagonist, Ingrid, becomes so consumed with the influencer lifestyle that she moves across the country just to befriend her Instagram idol. And, spoiler alert—it doesn’t end well. It’s a harsh reminder of how damaging it can be to lose sight of who we are in the quest to be like someone else.
The thing is, influencers are just people—people who have built a brand out of their lives. They have good days and bad days. They’re just as flawed as anyone else. The danger lies in placing them on pedestals, in treating their word as gospel. We’re letting them shape not just our buying habits, but our ideologies, our aspirations, our sense of self-worth. And that’s a pretty big responsibility for someone whose main qualification might be the ability to pose well or put together a trendy outfit.
I’m not saying all influencers are bad, or that there’s no value in what they do. Some influencers genuinely use their platforms for good—raising awareness about important issues, encouraging positivity, and creating communities where people feel seen and heard. But we need to approach this culture with a critical mind. We need to ask ourselves if what we’re seeing is real or just a polished performance. We need to remind ourselves that our worth isn’t determined by the number of likes or followers we have.
Maybe it’s time to take a step back. Maybe it’s time to be a little less influenced and a little more authentic. We should spend less time trying to keep up with the influencers and more time finding fulfillment in our own, unfiltered lives. At the end of the day, it’s about balance—about enjoying social media without letting it dictate our every thought and action. After all, life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans… or busy making other content, in this case.
So here’s my question to you: what if we all decided to be our own influencers? What if, instead of looking to strangers on a screen to tell us how to live, we started living in a way that felt meaningful to us? Maybe the true measure of success isn’t in being followed by millions, but in leading a life that’s true to who we are.
