When I was younger, the idea of becoming famous seemed only conceptual and overly distant. It seemed obvious to me that ritualistic effort would not always equate with fame and success, and much of it was based on being at the right place, at the right time.
The online arena of fame has seemed to prove me wrong. The increasing number of people who have been able to make a living out of influencing is evidence that fame has acquired new measurements, and online content and online popularity is now recognisable as a realistic goal and career path. How can you know if it isn’t the right path for you? What are some of the things stopping people from becoming influencers?
First, let’s ask ourselves—why do people want to be influencers ? Well, for the most obvious part, it might have to do with the fact that right now, me or you or anyone in the world could do it from the comfort of our beds, and fulfil the dream of curating the UK’s next best Instagram photo-dump.
It is so much more than just posts; the name itself, “influencers” speaks to our election of online creators as our tastemakers and social, cultural pioneers. As influencers, the key of fulfilling their role lies in creating an image desirable for anyone to emulate, with everything from fashion to interior decorating and taste in literature.
There is of course a major difference in any average person simply posting the details of their life online, and influencing, and I’m definitely not saying that there isn’t hard work and effort involved. Because of its accessibility, some people might consider that being an influencer is a ‘lazy’ job, but I do think it is similar to any job where dedication and passion reflects on success. Of course, as the internet landscape evolves, the role has found even more curated and niche avenues. The definition of an influencer and the variety of the role is far from limited, and influencers in specific areas such as fashion or media have gathered success just through sharing their passions and making it their everyday normality.
A key part of being an influencer is maintaining an authentic presence online, and successfully marketing yourself. One part which makes people feel uneasy about the role of an influencer is the idea of commodifying life experiences; in this way influencing can sometimes feel like the most performative and duplicitous career of all.
The product that influencers sell is themselves, their social and sometimes family life, all while trying to maintain relatability. So while I’m speaking in support of influencing I definitely see the valid concerns regarding privacy, and monetisation. Unfortunately, as strategic as you can be with what you share and what you don’t, it seems that once your lifestyle becomes monetised, strangers may feel disproportionately entitled to your world beyond the ringlight.
Photo by S O C I A L . C U T on Unsplash.