You touched on some very wonderful points that I agree with times a billion.I personally think that a lot of the backlash toward many so-called influencers, is due to the attitude they have regarding their position. They enjoy the very income that buys them their mansions, luxury cars and clothes, etc, to you and I, the every-people who watch their content and engage with them via social media. I don't deny that there is work involved in what they do, but it certainly isn't the hard graft that many of us do to simply keep afloat. If I were paid as well as they are for the hours I work, I'd be richer than most influencers. I think their bleating about how much hard work they put in is a massive insult to those who follow them. I would love to watch an unedited day in the life and see how many hours a day they actually spend on running their channels and socials. And to dismiss the notion of luck in regards to their popularity. The Saccone-Joly's, Louise Pentland, Zoella, Alfie Deyes, Joe Sugg and their comrades who burst onto the scene at a similar time have enormously benefited from being on YouTube at exactly the right moment. Had they arrived later, I'm sure their journey would be different.
I personally think these influencers need to colour their interactions with their audiences with a humble, gracious attitude. If it were not for us, they'd not have the careers they love so dearly. We as followers also need to respect their right to live safely, and certainly not bully or threaten them. No one has the right to do that to another. However, I am afraid these public figures have waived their right to private lives by broadcasting their lives to the world. You can't make a living off selling your family's life and then complain that people are impinging on your privacy, when you invited them inside your home yourself.
I also feel that if you are going to broadcast incidences of malicious behaviour, there should be some proof of it, so long as legal proceedings are not in place. I am definitely a 'I won't believe it until I see it' kind of person.
I harbour no bad feelings toward any influencer, and have never bullied, intimidated or threatened one. I've never tried to pry into their personal lives or make their lives difficult in any way. I do feel that they all need to take stock of their positions, and realise that their very livelihood relies upon engagement from the every-person, you and me, before they alienate their entire audiences with their extravagant lifestyles and entitled attitudes.
Sorry for the essay, this issue is really bothering me.
Oh, and Jonathan and Anna, if you do read here. I am not a sad little person with a sad little life. I am not experiencing a horrible life event, nor is it making me behave in a horrible manner. I found gossip sites like this after other influencers directed me here by not allowing any kind of discourse on their channels and socials regarding their conduct online. There needs to be somewhere for people to express their opinion, especially where it cannot be doctored or managed by the influencer in question. I am simply a consumer who wishes to make her opinion known and to be able to discuss it freely. I wish you and your family well, and have never and would never harm you in any way. Feel free to send me a message if you'd like to chat.
Thanks, chaps. Peace out!
I've noticed a pattern with a lot of YouTubers surrounding viewer engagement. Most of them get to a point where they make excuses for their lack of audience interaction. Either they are too busy with other projects, hide behind the guise of mental illness (*coughs* Zoella *coughs*), or say they don't like meet and greets because they cannot meet everyone properly. Yet, they are never too busy or shy to go on book tours, brand sponsored trips, or promotional appearances to support whatever their latest endeavor is. So basically they are telling the people who support them is if they want engagement they need to pay for it. I remember when Anna and Jonathan went to vlogger events when Emilia and Eduardo were babies. They'd leave them with the nanny (I think her name was Natasha?) and she would vlog while they were at the event. With the amount of help they have now there is no excuse for why they couldn't do more public appearances. Even if it's just once a year, it's better then nothing. How quickly these people forget where they came from and who they partially have to thank for where they are now.
