With social media taking over the internet, online content creators and influencers have created strong and widespread platforms. I have watched and followed many social media influencers throughout the years on Instagram, Youtube, and TikTok. Recently, within the last 3 years, TikTok has become the easiest site to grow on. With over 1.5 billion users on the app, the range of content varies. However, there have been celebrities created from this one single app alone. One of the most notable and watched online influencers is Alix Earle. Earle began on TikTok in 2019, posting videos yet only receiving a thousand or so views. She began to go viral in 2021, reaching millions of people with her videos about fashion, college, and lifestyle content. Now, Earle continues to reach fame with over 7 million TikTok followers.
As someone with an interest in social media, I enjoy watching other online influencers. However, viewers tend to believe everything they see and hear from these well known users. Unfortunately, oftentimes online influencers speak and post without double checking the accuracy of information, which can lead to a mass spread of misinformation. Additionally, another issue that can arise in this position of online power is difficulty being transparent. Many brands want to sponsor and work with these large creators, oftentimes in exchange for money and free products. This results in false reviews, and influencers promoting things that they do not truly like and enjoy.
As social media continues to grow, more and more people are able to make money off of these platforms. In the year 2023, Earle reportedly made nearly $5 million dollars through her position as an online influencer. Social media is providing people with full time jobs, accompanied by excellent payments. By building personal brands and gaining large followings, these influencers have a large sway in public opinion and spread of information.
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