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.

  • dangblingus@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    8 months ago

    Why would anyone buy something because someone who openly admits to being paid to promote the thing told you to buy it?

    • Crikeste@lemm.ee
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      8 months ago

      Are you implying advertising doesn’t work? Because, regardless of whether you like it or not, advertising does work.

      A person on a TV is doing the same thing as a person on YouTube or TikTok, and I bet you’ve bought something because it was advertised to you on TV. Does that make mean you’re just as susceptible to it as younger people? Yes.

      Older people love to look down on younger people, but you were the model that showed this works and got us to this point.

    • Yuion@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      I mean… when they show a product I find cool or interesting why wouldnt I buy it? I always like to mention Displate in this case. Its nothing special. Its not even useful. But the metal posters are goddamn cool. I didnt know something like this existed before and now I know and I occasionally buy one if i like one. So what was the issue with an influencer showing me this? I would have bought them even if i found it myself.

      • Kage520@lemmy.world
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        8 months ago

        I think they mean more like “hey guys let me tell you about my new favorite shirt. Super great quality from China. Absolutely love it. They paid me to say that though”. Maybe don’t buy that shirt online based on that review alone.

    • TheKMAP@lemmynsfw.com
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      8 months ago

      It’s literally in the name. They are influencing.

      As for why/how there’s a ton of biases/fallacies that cause that to happen. Pick any and it’s not difficult to create a scenario where a malleable person applies it.

    • faethon@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      That’s the right question to ask! It may have to do with the Halo effect as well. Even though the influencer not necessarily is a celebrity, they have build a certain level of trust with their followers I guess… In any case, I dont get it either, but I may fall out of the audience for any influencer I guess…