My 4 Things of Influence: Sarah Latta

It can be a good thing, or a bad thing. Latta, 20, New Zealand.

What does Influence mean to you?

Influence, to me, can be a good or bad thing. It follows us everywhere, from the influence of the clothes we wear to the things that are taught to us. I feel as if it is stronger now, more than ever, in our society. There are good influences like friends, families, teachers etc.; and there are bad influences such as violence in video games and people in power who are teaching the wrong things.

What qualities do people/things of influence have?

Someone with a higher [degree of] power than you, such as a teacher, parents or politician. The sort of people that try to communicate with you through words and actions on a day-to-day basis.

What is one person of Influence and why?

Emma Watson. She stands for gender equality and brings her own power and voice to the entertainment industry. She shows females everywhere that we can be powerful.

What is one brand of influence and why?

Kylie Cosmetics. Kylie Jenner is an A-list celebrity, so she has the power to bring brands into the consumer market. Makeup (whether or not someone chooses to use the products), has influence on each gender in that they’re creating their own look, and even personality, just by buying these branded products.

What is one experience of influence and why?

Travel. For myself, I have been lucky enough to be able to travel to different countries and explore different cultures. When someone arrives back from travelling to another location, they bring back the stories of what they have experienced and the things they have seen to others back in their hometown. The ability to travel, and then come home and tell others about the experience, [inspires] others to do the same.

What is one ‘system’ or platform of influence and why?

Instagram. In this day and age, Instagram is a media platform that almost every person may use in their lifetime. It can be used to show people your lifestyle. For brands, Instagram is a tool that can be used to influence people to buy things, follow accounts and change the way they look, based on sponsored posts, ads, and what’s trending in the media.