What Is A Social Media Influencer?

Gabriella Ferrera
Nov 7 · 4 min read

In today’s social media obsessed world, it’s hard to find anybody who hasn’t heard of “influencers” and the power they have over the decisions that people make. Even though these people have what many would consider a fun and ideal job, there are plenty of inconspicuous aspects included in being a social media influencer.

After watching the #followme video and attending the in-class panel, I feel like I have learned a lot more about the roles of social media influencers. Here are some things that I personally find interesting in the world of influencers, what they do and the immense impact they have:


What makes someone an influencer?

The term “influencer” is fairly broad, but simply speaking it’s someone popular on social media who can, well, influence people. According the the panel of Rochester-based influencers in class today, social media influencing is not just about having a large social media following, but also about receiving lots of engagement and making frequent posts. Many people who are considered influencers don’t do it full time and hate the title (preferring things like “content creator” instead), yet people are still influenced by their choices and online presence. Influencing can also have more complex aspects such as being able to connect people, supporting local places and things, and letting influencers give back to their community.


Why are influencers so effective today?

According to the #followme documentary, one of the biggest reasons that influencers are so effective is because people trust other people much more than ads. In addition, people in contemporary society spend a large amount of their time online and on social media.Therefore, due to the careful construction of their brand/image on social media accounts, influencers appear to be living ideal lives. This makes people want to go to the places they go and buy the things that they buy.


Should companies work with influencers?

I think it can be a very smart idea for companies to work with influencers. This is especially relevant in promoting awareness for a brand, since influencers certainly have the ability to sway opinions on things. However, I do think it can be risky, especially if an influencer has a scandal or has been previously called out for promoting something faulty (ie the Fyre Festival).

I think the most effective strategy for company and influencer cooperation is simply building trust. The company and the influencer need to work together to ensure that each other is legitimate and that there can be a mutually beneficial relationship between them.


Positive influencers?

One influencer who I personally love is Leonardo DiCaprio. One of my favorite things about his profile is that he rarely posts anything about himself, which is something that’s seldom seen with other celebrities or influencers. Unlike many other influencers who use their fame to promote brands, DiCaprio uses his celebrity status primarily to be a huge advocate for environmentalism in the face of climate change.

DiCaprio’s Instagram is completely based around activism and convincing his followers of the urgency to make a change. I think this is a very bold move since climate change is seen as a political topic and therefore this could be polarizing and cause him to lose followers. However, I also think his status as an A-list actor also has the ability to sway peoples’ opinions on climate change, which is an extremely important aspect of his influence. I believe we commonly view influencers as people who promote materialistic things like clothes or makeup, not major movements and issues, and therefore I commend DiCaprio for his strong stance and activism.


Negative influencers?

One influencer who I absolutely cannot stand is James Charles. He’s a beauty and makeup guru who got his fame from being the first male Covergirl, and unfortunately I also went to high school with him. Since his rise to stardom he has had plenty of scandals, including posting controversial content and fighting with various other Internet personalities.

These scandals combined with what I already know about him from our mutual friends makes it evident that he’s an extremely shallow and narcissistic person. Although I’m sure that assessment is true for plenty of other influencers, I refuse to support one who gives my hometown a bad reputation. Therefore, I will not buy any of the products he either produces or endorses, and I urge my friends to do the same.

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