I've been thinking about influencers in general regarding what has been discussed here recently. It's such a new world that we don't know the effects of it yet. Who is to say that how these people are earning their money is okay? How do we know how damaging it is to their viewers? I've opened my eyes and wisened up to it, but it breaks my heart thinking of young girls, insecure people, lonely people who are sucked in by these influencers chatting away as if they are a friend, people getting into debt and feeling not good enough. It's so different to advertising we originally saw in magazines. These influencers are letting us in to their whole lives, showing their relationships and family life. Recommending products isnt just a photo and a caption in a magazine now, its a sit down video chatting us through the product. The ASA are not doing enough yet. That's what brings me to this thread as it's actually quite refreshing to see others seeing these influencers and what they post, taking a step back and thinking wait is this ethical/okay.
The influencer world is so new. Are we just meant to accept it and keep quiet? The influencers themselves don't want to engage in discussion, yet discussing them on here is unacceptable. And by discussing I mean discussing their unethical and shady behaviour, not trolling them and their families which I have no time for.
Its been a long day at work hopefully this made some sense