BITES // 10.08.20 // MODERN INFLUENCE
Every month we collect six of the best pieces of content published on the web and share them with you, because we believe that the most extraordinary thinking is inspired by looking to unexpected places. BITES is a reading list for those who want to bring a little of the outside, in.
1. ATTENBOROUGH’S NEXT EXPEDITION
Social media isn’t David Attenborough’s usual habitat, but in order to save the planet (and ourselves), the 94-year-old naturalist was willing to explore any medium to reach a wider audience. Instagram gained a legend in Attenborough, who plans to use the platform to tackle environmental crises with young people. His unexpected entry broke the world record for the fastest accumulation of 1 million followers, and symbolizes an appetite for wisdom-based content. This shift promises an enriching future for the platform that extends beyond a place to capture and share the world’s moments, but also helps to save it.
2. A WHISTLEBLOWER’S UNFINISHED BUSINESS
In a company memo sent on her last day, mid-level data scientist Sophie Zhang details a three year career at Facebook in which her actions and inactions have directly helped to undermine elections and political affairs around the world. Zhang’s job was to discover fake account networks on the platform, but has since “lost count” of the times heads of government have abused the platform to manipulate public opinion — and Facebook’s failure to act each time. Even with her firing, Zhang has used every opportunity to influence a better future for those who can’t defend themselves. It’s frightening to consider the disproportionate impact on democracy in a scenario where there is no longer a voice of moral guidance within Facebook’s walls.
3. LESSONS IN ELITE COMPETITION
Naomi Osaka and LeBron James are among the many voices in sport defining what it means to be an athlete in 2020: A driving force both on and off the court. While the development and expression of the whole person is becoming increasingly valuable, our education system is failing to equip the next generation of athletes to be more than just vehicles for entertainment. One compelling reform is to treat elite sports performance as a valuable course of study that encompasses leadership, the science of performance under pressure, labor law, and concepts of justice. In a modern sports world where athletes hold so much power, it is in everyone’s best interest to actually prepare student athletes for the professional arena — as college has always been meant to do.
4. A ‘SAVAGE’ PERFORMANCE
With the return of Saturday Night Live, Megan Thee Stallion used her performance to call for the protection of Black women and men, quoting Malcom X in the background of her set and reserving a few choice words for Kentucky attorney general Daniel Cameron. Her standout debut, for many, symbolized an empowered comeback and refusal to be seen as a victim, as Megan was shot multiple times in the feet by rapper Tory Lanez in July. The performance not only speaks to the intersectionality between celebrity and social issues, but the growing acceptance for artists to wield their voices and be embraced as megaphones for causes that need our attention.
5. THE PAINFUL GENEROSITY OF THE LEGEND FAMILY
Chrissy Teigen and John Legend announced the loss of their son on social media, days after she posted about suffering pregnancy complications. In grieving for their son as openly as they normally share other positive experiences, the parents gave permission for others to share in their grief — and in the process, helped to remove the shame that too often surrounds pregnancy loss. This moment points to a new layer of celebrity influence that offers a greater sense of vulnerability, encouraging productive and cathartic dialogue about women’s health and other often discouraged topics in culture.
6. THE HAND-ME-DOWN BRAND BOOK
Bloomberg’s Ben Schott perfectly encapsulates the ‘bland new world’ we live in, in which aspirational brands of our time are using the same codebook to “win” the hearts and wallets of the millennial consumer. Using examples like Away, Warby Parker, Casper, and Quip to make his point, Schott breaks out what constitutes a ‘bland,’ from homogenous naming, color palette, mission, product design, and tone. In a world where an algorithm dictates what brands are going to act like, look like and believe in, it turns the mirror back on consumers and their predictability. While the success of blands prove the formula works, new brands should take note from this rising generation of influencers and find their own voice — especially one that isn’t already taken.
TAKEAWAY:
The role of the influencer has largely been transactional, promoting items on social media in order to inspire purchase, often with a personal benefit attached. But as we open up to each other in new ways, “influence” is taking on a more selfless form, allowing us to engage in conversations we’ve never had before, in places they’ve traditionally been unwelcome. The historian, the whistleblower, and the athlete represent the next class of influencers, authorized by lived experiences and a commitment to the greater good, not image or personal gain. There’s a palpable craving for real voices that center humanity; a hunger for the newfound power of the modern influencer.
