I got off social media a couple of years ago and honestly, it's so easy to live your life without knowing a single thing about any of these people, I really wonder why more people don't do it
Agree! Since I have Substack, I keep forgetting to open my IG app. I, anyway, have a second account to my main one, where all the BS is piling up, and in my second account, I only follow people who inspire me creatively. (I've somehow hacked the algorithm so it only shows ads for pretty dresses. I'm ok with that haha)
Over the last six months I deleted my Twitter account and removed BlueSky, Reddit and Insta from my mobile devices. It's glorious. Not only do I not know about all these people, I don't have to hear about the latest 'discourse'/giant brain-sucking Twitter fight.
This was a really enjoyable read. You covered such an expansive topic so concisely! I’ll have to look up the show Fake Famous— it’s mad how just apparently being “famous” or being coveted by an audience translates to tangible benefits and opportunities!
thank you!! and i agree, especially now that it's so easy to fake an audience. as i said in my piece, i think this kind of economy will crash soon, tho. it has too.
Influencing really is getting sooo old. And I hate to admit it but I def promoted products I didn’t really use back in my influencer days. I was broke and trying to make it and it was hard to resist the money! Maybe there are some influencers who are being fully authentic but after seeing the other side I know it’s not the norm.
Or things-respectfully-but it certainly seems like a time we’re in a death of celebrity time period. It seems we all care collectively less and less but it’s too late-these folks have so much power and funny for nothing.
Yessss this is so good. I’m also fascinated by trend culture. Ty for the documentary rec. I wrote a piece recently about how trend culture has taken over activism, if anyone is interested
It's not just the influencer phenomena that's collapsing. Try looking at politics and the economy and world systems of power. What's your witnessing is the real collapse of western systems. Brace yourself.
Tbh, I think watching “The Social Dilemma” when it came out on Netflix changed the way I use most apps, but especially with social media apps. I stopped keeping my notifications on, and it really helped me use it less. I also go outside though so maybe seeing real ppl on the train and in stores really changes the way people see others depending on their interactions (or lack there of) in the real world
I get what you're saying, and I agree completely. I'm just a bit hung up on your line:
“I am aware that not every influencer is a pathological liar.”
My mind keeps circling the thought: “Aren’t they?”
Not in a combative way, but more like... well, isn’t that baked into the business model? I always felt dishonest just “sharing” my life on social media, so I left. Because ultimately, any influencer’s relationship with their audience is transactional. It’s built for adoration, for monetization. It’s not “real” or truly “honest.” Is it? Even when it’s sincere, the structure is still designed for performance.
That’s not meant to undercut your point--it’s just where my own lingering thoughts have landed. Maybe I’m still figuring out whether I believe what I’m saying right now.
But I really appreciate your piece--it's given me something I’ll be wrestling with. And maybe some shows to watch!
I know this is a trite point, but on the topic of dishonest influencers, I need to vent:
I have such a problem with the widespread lying about, or rather "neither admitting nor denying" having undergone cosmetic enhancements (surely the Kardashians are the first to come to mind, but this includes many, many other celebs). The impact this has on women, the stigmatization it breeds...ugh. I know many women (mom, step-mom, mother-in-law, sister-in-law, friends, etc.) who also hide the work they have had done. There needs to be open discourse here, or else we are all forced to live in this entirely false world built on lies. We as women are insecure enough as it is; the last thing we need is to be convinced that everyone around us is so unnaturally "naturally" perfect.
I am quite pro-cosmetic surgery, because I am for whatever makes people happy; but I am fervently anti-feigning-naturalness, because I cannot stand for people selfishly putting their happiness first at the expense of others. There's an easy solution here: get the work if you want to, and be transparent about it, ESPECIALLY if you are a highly influential figure that many young, impressionable, insecure women idolize.
I got off social media a couple of years ago and honestly, it's so easy to live your life without knowing a single thing about any of these people, I really wonder why more people don't do it
Completely agree, so refreshing.
i agree 100%
Agree! Since I have Substack, I keep forgetting to open my IG app. I, anyway, have a second account to my main one, where all the BS is piling up, and in my second account, I only follow people who inspire me creatively. (I've somehow hacked the algorithm so it only shows ads for pretty dresses. I'm ok with that haha)
Over the last six months I deleted my Twitter account and removed BlueSky, Reddit and Insta from my mobile devices. It's glorious. Not only do I not know about all these people, I don't have to hear about the latest 'discourse'/giant brain-sucking Twitter fight.
The only reason I stay, is so I can write about it haha
ooo i’m gonna watch those documentaries! also i love madyson and salem!!
yay!!! they are amazing. i truly enjoy watching their videos
Beautifully written, so relatable — thank you for writing!
and thank you so much for reading!! 💌
This was a really enjoyable read. You covered such an expansive topic so concisely! I’ll have to look up the show Fake Famous— it’s mad how just apparently being “famous” or being coveted by an audience translates to tangible benefits and opportunities!
thank you!! and i agree, especially now that it's so easy to fake an audience. as i said in my piece, i think this kind of economy will crash soon, tho. it has too.
thank you so much for reading! 💖
Yup. Exactly why I deeply despise Instagram. It’s all lies.
Influencing really is getting sooo old. And I hate to admit it but I def promoted products I didn’t really use back in my influencer days. I was broke and trying to make it and it was hard to resist the money! Maybe there are some influencers who are being fully authentic but after seeing the other side I know it’s not the norm.
The internet is fake. Get into real life
I’m not into “moons or signs”
Or things-respectfully-but it certainly seems like a time we’re in a death of celebrity time period. It seems we all care collectively less and less but it’s too late-these folks have so much power and funny for nothing.
Probably gave better health advice than the Doctors, to be fair.
okay I LOVE this piece. agree 1000% — influencer culture is dying
Yessss this is so good. I’m also fascinated by trend culture. Ty for the documentary rec. I wrote a piece recently about how trend culture has taken over activism, if anyone is interested
https://open.substack.com/pub/mollytarr/p/outrage-inc?r=4h53rc&utm_medium=ios
It's not just the influencer phenomena that's collapsing. Try looking at politics and the economy and world systems of power. What's your witnessing is the real collapse of western systems. Brace yourself.
Tbh, I think watching “The Social Dilemma” when it came out on Netflix changed the way I use most apps, but especially with social media apps. I stopped keeping my notifications on, and it really helped me use it less. I also go outside though so maybe seeing real ppl on the train and in stores really changes the way people see others depending on their interactions (or lack there of) in the real world
I get what you're saying, and I agree completely. I'm just a bit hung up on your line:
“I am aware that not every influencer is a pathological liar.”
My mind keeps circling the thought: “Aren’t they?”
Not in a combative way, but more like... well, isn’t that baked into the business model? I always felt dishonest just “sharing” my life on social media, so I left. Because ultimately, any influencer’s relationship with their audience is transactional. It’s built for adoration, for monetization. It’s not “real” or truly “honest.” Is it? Even when it’s sincere, the structure is still designed for performance.
That’s not meant to undercut your point--it’s just where my own lingering thoughts have landed. Maybe I’m still figuring out whether I believe what I’m saying right now.
But I really appreciate your piece--it's given me something I’ll be wrestling with. And maybe some shows to watch!
Thank you.
I know this is a trite point, but on the topic of dishonest influencers, I need to vent:
I have such a problem with the widespread lying about, or rather "neither admitting nor denying" having undergone cosmetic enhancements (surely the Kardashians are the first to come to mind, but this includes many, many other celebs). The impact this has on women, the stigmatization it breeds...ugh. I know many women (mom, step-mom, mother-in-law, sister-in-law, friends, etc.) who also hide the work they have had done. There needs to be open discourse here, or else we are all forced to live in this entirely false world built on lies. We as women are insecure enough as it is; the last thing we need is to be convinced that everyone around us is so unnaturally "naturally" perfect.
I am quite pro-cosmetic surgery, because I am for whatever makes people happy; but I am fervently anti-feigning-naturalness, because I cannot stand for people selfishly putting their happiness first at the expense of others. There's an easy solution here: get the work if you want to, and be transparent about it, ESPECIALLY if you are a highly influential figure that many young, impressionable, insecure women idolize.
amazing post! emma chamberlain is THE ONLY “celebrity” i like!!! she is so refreshing.