Although the spectacle of influencers flaunting their affluence has long been a staple of social media, there are signs that audiences are growing tired of it. Experts say “influencer fatigue” is wearing on young people who crave authenticity as inflation rises and achieving a stable livelihood becomes increasingly difficult.

According to data from a YPulse study shared with Yahoo News, 45% of people between the ages of 13 and 22 say influencers just don’t have the same power that they used to. About 53% said they were more likely to trust recommendations from regular people online whom they don’t know rather than creators with large followings.

Influencer marketing once offered an alternative to typical celebrity marketing. Celebrities appeal to us as salespeople because of the psychological phenomenon known as the halo effect. If someone is talented or beautiful, we assume they are highly qualified in other ways as well, which boosts sales. Influencers, who are powerful but not conventionally famous, offered a more relatable and accessible alternative. They’re far enough removed from celebrities that we can relate to them — until we can’t.

  • ObsidianZed@lemmy.world
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    8 months ago

    Sorry if I’m unable to muster up any sympathy.

    Also the phrase ‘getting tired of fatigue’ tickles me.

      • Paddzr@lemmy.world
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        8 months ago

        Right, I thought it was a comment about how young people brought it onto themselves… This whole concept where they enabled influencers and now it’s on them.

      • cryostars@lemmyf.uk
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        8 months ago

        Right, but are we supposed to muster up sympathy for people who follow influencers getting fatigued from following influencers? Really not trying to be snarky just curious

  • snooggums@midwest.social
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    8 months ago

    Influencer = self employed advertiser. Being a fan of an influencer is like being a fan of the insurance gecko.

  • davemeech@lemmy.ca
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    8 months ago

    Probably an old man yelling at cloud sentiment, but I hated them from the very beginning.

    • Cosmicomical@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      Influencer is a bad name, but I see them as bottom-up content creator, instead of the top-down conventional media. In this sense it’s more democratic approach and there is a wider choice and plurality of voices. But mainstream media is now enrolling them, for instance Reach Plc (who owns the Mirror and the Daily Express) fired a bunch of journalists and hired influencers. So you know, now you’re going to get the worst of two worlds.

    • Potatos_are_not_friends@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      I’m definitely an old man. And i remember when YouTube influencers started being a thing.

      To this day, I have no idea what the hell a Mr Beast is or any of these famous YouTubers are. And most of them either fade away or get propped up by some bad news.

    • nifty@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      I am not an old man, and I felt the same. I left Facebook in 2008, don’t have insta, TikTok, or tweet. I also left Reddit in 2014ish.

      I only use HN (on and off to comment on articles), and recently started Lemmy. Will I stay! Idk. Some international acquaintances and friends use WhatsApp, but I’ve mainly quit it.

    • AngryCommieKender@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      I distinctly remember a show called Lifestyles of The Rich and Famous, though I couldn’t tell you what celebs were featured. Then MTV had Cribs in the '90s. Influencers are basically just the modern version of those shows, aren’t they?

      • dangblingus@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        8 months ago

        The difference is now, they legally have to tell you they’re being paid to promote a product. And people just don’t care or understand the dynamic of why it might not actually be in their best interest to listen to a shill.

      • octopus_ink@lemmy.ml
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        8 months ago

        Everyone keeps naming things that were always tiresome worship of excessive consumption and wealth. A good many of us were tired of them then, too.

    • Duamerthrax@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      Influences back then were just called Celebrity Endorsements. Or did you think Robert Rockwell wasn’t getting paid?

  • FiniteBanjo@lemmy.today
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    8 months ago

    That’s because the algorithm has grown recursive and shoves the same mainstream shit down everybody’s throat on repeat. Cake is cool but imagine never being allowed to eat anything other than cake.

  • Aniki 🌱🌿@lemm.ee
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    8 months ago

    Branding is important, but brands need to be relatable to resonate with Gen Z.

    Peak Capital Brain Rot.

  • JovialSodium@lemmy.sdf.org
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    8 months ago

    Some unsolicited advice

    Don’t trust anyone trying to make a living off of selling you anything, even something less tangible like a lifestyle. If you have extra income after living expenses, set a little aside for personal enjoyment and save/invest the rest. The future is uncertain. If you want to travel to far flung destinations and have the means to do so, consider skipping the resort experience. You’ll spend much less especially in developing countries and have a more authentic (relatively speaking), and rewarding experience.

    • IninewCrow@lemmy.ca
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      8 months ago

      In the 70s and 80s, if a fast talking guy with sunglasses and slicked back hair and in a checkered suit wanted to talk to you about the latest greatest thing … you knew they were selling something shitty.

      Today we call those people influencers.

      They were a trend back then, they’re a trend now and will die out when the next trend starts … probably brain implanted advertising inside your dreams or something like that.

      It’s something that every generations grown up with …

      Some babe’s talking real loud
      Talking all about the new crowd
      Try and tell me of an old dream
      A new version of the old scene

      • Ragdoll … by Aerosmith … in 1987
    • rowrowrowyourboat@sh.itjust.works
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      8 months ago

      The last point has to come with a huge caveat. Some of those developing countries are pretty unsafe outside of resorts without a guide or a local that knows where you should and shouldn’t go.

      • JovialSodium@lemmy.sdf.org
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        8 months ago

        There’s certainly more dangers and risk and that’s important to be mindful of, but I don’t agree that it should be limited to having to have a local or a guide.

        Some more unsolicited advice to that end.

        • There are some places it’s not advisable to go. Perhaps due to conflict, civil unrest, or
        • There’s more risk if there’s a common cultural bias against you (nationality, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual preferences, etc).
        • Research if and what tourist targeted crimes are common ar your destination, as well as scams.
        • Affluent areas tend to be safer. And still very affordable, comparatively.
        • Don’t carry a lot of valuables. Enough cash for whatever your outing is. I also recommend keeping a travel specific debit card with no international fees and keeping a small balance on it and carry that around. A low limit credit card could also work.
        • Let people back home know where you are and check in. If your country has a consulate there, keep that info handy.
        • Risks for being a target are higher for women because the world is awful like that.

        I know that’s seems like a lot, but it really boils down to being mindful, aware, and prepared.

        Edit: split out conflicts and biases and removed a mansplainy bit.

  • ScruffyDucky@lemmy.world
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    8 months ago

    I remember when these kind of people use to be called attention whores on the internet but I guess you can’t use that term when you’re shilling products

    #BringBackAttentionWhores so we can go back to attention whores fatique

    • mPony@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      I think “whores” works well enough on its own, but some would argue whether it’s a gender-neutral term, so I am reluctant to use it.

  • ctkatz@lemmy.ml
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    8 months ago

    what the fuck is an “influencer” anyway?

    maybe it’s because I have always thought for myself, but when I hear influencer I think in my head “online attention w. hor. e. whose 15 minutes ended 15 hours ago”.

    if kids are not paying attention to narcissistic craving it and thinking for themselves as a side benefit it can only be a good thing.

    • brygphilomena@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      Say it. Say whore. You are allowed to.

      Stop censoring yourself so other people can more easily appeal to advertisers. I fucking hate that so many people censor themselves so someone else can make more money.

      • BottleOfAlkahest@lemmy.world
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        8 months ago

        There on lemmy.ml they likely can’t say it on their instance without it being autocensored. I also don’t agree with a lot of .ml stances but I don’t think they’re selling advertising space over there, has that changed recently?