Don't get me wrong, I used to love Jess' content. However, I feel like over the past few years I've gradually been falling out of love with influencer content in general.
(Some background on myself to make this make sense) so being a post grad in London, struggling to find that inital grad job and working in a restaurant in the interim while struggling to pay extortionate London rent prices - it does gall seeing someone you follow receive numerous designer items for free and go on many expensive holidays etc.
Obviously this is incredibly whiny and self pitying, everyone has their own struggles and there are obviously people out there who have much worse struggles to contend with. And obviously, none of this is directly Jess' or any other influencers 'fault.' They get free stuff as PR.
I use influencer content as a kind of escape and a way to wind down after my day. I've been watching influencers since I was a teenager, before the term 'Influencer' was even a thing. Watching vloggers used to feel warm and familiar, these were people like me, who I could relate to. However my feeling towards influencer content has been changing recently as I've realised that it's become increasingly more sinister over the years. There seems to be such a disparity of wealth between myself and the people I used to be able to relate to and it's chilling to realise that what I used to see as some lighthearted entertainment has become more about trying to sell me a lifestyle which seems so unattainable instead.
Again, I understand this is an incredibly cynical viewpoint to take. Influencer marketing exists for a reason and understandably its up to us to self regulate if we're uncomfortable with the content we're consuming.
However. The thing that got to me the most about Jess' videos recently (and the reason I'm even on here in the first place) is one of her recent Vlogtober videos (from Oct 21st). It begins with her having a 'planning day' which she stops at quarter past 4 to read a book. She mentions going out to take a picture, but then puts it off because she's 'not feeling inspired.' The next day she starts off by saying 'nothing urgent needs to happen' so she spent the morning finishing her book. She then goes out to buy an expensive table. The next day she's out at Kew gardens. The next day is Thursday and she's in bed talking about how she wants to do a botany course?? Then the next day arrives. It's Friday - she's done NO work???? All week. Initially I had to turn the video off at this point it enraged me so much.
I don't usually feel so strongly about stuff like this but boy this video REALLY got to me. This girl OWNS a house in London. She bought a HOUSE. Surely to earn that kind of money to be able to do that you'd need to work pretty hard right??? Apparently not.
I understand her work might have seen a bit of a lapse recently due to Covid but still. Again, I understand she's going through personal family struggles as well for which I completely sympathise. But there hasn't been a single ounce of work completed so far from what I can see.
It's so frustrating for those watching, doing their 9-5 who would LOVE for the chance to go out to Kew gardens in the middle of the day, or have a nap, or read a book whenever they feel like it. But oh yeah. That's not how having a job works is it.
Back to the video, so it's Friday and Jess happily announces 'yesterday I spent most of the day reading' she at least has the self awareness to do a guilty chuckle at the end of the sentence. So what's she up to today I hear you ask? 'Zak and I are going to head into John Lewis.' Right. She then comes home to complain about how John Lewis was 'very uninspiring'
ffs.
She then goes off on a tangent about how lazy and unproductive her week has been. 'I feel like there's so much I could have got done which I didn't do. But it's Friday, so I'm not going to start doing anything now.' Fantastic. Not sure my boss would buy it if I tried to tell her that to be honest.
She then goes on to talk about how these weeks happen and she's trying to be gentle and easy on herself. And I get that. I really do. But it just doesn't seem like she's attempted to do anything whatsoever. How can you literally not work for a whole week??
She then goes on to say that she's going to try and give herself a kick up the ass next week and to 'foster some inspiration.' Which sounds like a good idea.
I hate how bitter this is coming across but it's just so difficult. I would LOVE to have the job she has. It's just so insulting to see someone in her incredibly privileged position who does not seem to acknowledge it in the slightest.
Idk, this has been a long rant. Let me know your thoughts pls.
