I am so glad I am here with you guys, you are so intelligent! We can make fun of Lydia, but we can also have meaningful discussions.
Someone already wrote and I agree about influencers giving the more personal vibe. For instance, I used to follow Tamara way back, and also Lydia few years ago. I can remember how humble they were (at least Ali did a fantastic job in editing) and when Tamara was still studying and then she worked in a pharmacy - she actually wore River Island and H&M! Just another girl from next door just like me or you.
I took me a while to realize the recommendations are not honest anymore and I too was blinded by feeling like they are virtual friends and above else, normal people with normal human lives just like me. So why wouldn’t I believe them?
I remember starting feeling inadequate and not good enough and not successful enough once their “lifestyle” (actually career) has taken off. I kept wondering and asking myself how can they afford all those expensive things and trips and how is it possible that I cannot although I am working my ass off? Social media has been a huge negative impact on my self esteem I have to admit, I kept watching their videos about how they afford luxury and kept asking myself if we even live on the same planet.
I don’t know when exactly did I realize that it was all lies, but what was the final straw for me was catching Tamara lying about her favorites not being sponsored. And then I started to pay attention more closely - before that youtube was just a distraction from my hard life and I didn’t put much thought into it - I thought I didn’t have to - just normal, genuine people here- how naive.
I must say one thing though - I am not jealous, to me, pair of my favorite ankle boots are more valuable because I really earned them, I worked, I earned my money and I picked them and payed for them myself. Being constantly given stuff you not only lose the humility and gratefulness, but you lose the value you have for your own work. I don’t know how can they sleep at night knowing they are lying their teeth off trying to sell us products over and over and over. I think the reason lying behind not properly disclosing is pure embarrassment - of how much stuff they are pushing and trying to sell - I mean they must notice that too. But money smells nice.
I have to add I find regulations a good thing - for once people that did not think about that before are now aware that this is just a business like any other. In Croatia and surrounding countries are no regulations yet, so the bloggers are selling everything they can. The thing is, more and more people are taking red pills and I don’t think people will buy the shot they are talking anymore.
At least our generation, the younger generations where smartphones and tablets are way more important than reading a single book worries me.