Woe is me!
Preface: I just love your posts @consumerism makes u free. They're always so spot-on.But most people
I realize you didnt intend it poorly but that is some patronizing stuff, that is borderline spiritual bypassing, and neglects the reality of the world for many of us. Hard work doesn't ensure 'happiness' anymore than being born into wealth does. And it doesnt ensure financial security obviously. But being born into wealth does (generally) ensure financial security and financial insecurity is arguably the number one killer in the world. Its not just 'nice' not to have to worry about money, its almost everything. And if someone doesnt know that or believe that, its because theyve never really had to worry.
Your feelings are 100% valid and you don't need to apologize or justify yourself for them. I think what you touched on is the reason many of us are even on these forums tbh. When you said: "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." -- this statement deadass sums it all up. I know how you feel. I started watching these Youtubers back when I was a teenager living at home with my parents -- I was seeking company and at the time it was just them talking to a webcam in their bedroom. They were relatable. Just girls around my age talking about things I could easily connect with. Now 10 years later, I'm an adult living in a foreign country paying for my own rent, bills, and a mountain of student debt, and it seems like they couldn't even begin to grasp any of the challenges I have to face on a daily basis. They no longer talk about or show anything I could possibly identify with. Our lives, struggles, and concerns could not be any more opposite. In a way, they're the embodiment of social injustice. They are working the least, yet earning the most. Getting maximum profits (insanely high paychecks, plus a neverending flow of gifts, plus all the time in the world) while the rest of us get nothing at all (low wages, zero freebies, 45+ hour weeks and no free time). How could they possibly be enjoyable to watch for people like us? Especially when the gap didn't seem as huge back when we started watching them--we literally watched as the gap between us and them grew bigger and bigger over the years. Why would I enjoy watching a girl whose parents are multi-millionaires as she sits in her West London house not doing any work for weeks in a row, when I come back to my tiny flat exhausted after a 10 hour work day and haven't taken a day off in months? Naturally it won't make me feel good. I don't think you're being bitter at all. I think people like Jess are just unconsciously highlighting how unfair this society is. Back in the day there were no PR gifts, no PR trips, no sponsored instagram posts, and most of them were posting videos alongside their day-to-day job or activities (such as uni). The dynamic is, unfortunately, completely different now. It's sickening really--there shouldn't be such insane disparities between people's wealth levels/lifestyles. You mentioned "Self-regulating" and it's also not as easy as it sounds right (it's the old influencer disclaimer: "if you dislike me or my content you can just click off!") ...we GREW UP watching these people and clearly our feelings were MUCH different at the beginning than they are now. When you have followed someone for years, feel like you've grown to know them pretty closely, have kind of developed a habit of watching them...it's not that easy to just click off and ignore what's happening right before your eyes. The familiarity is there. It's all the more sickening when you start realizing what this has turned into and the effect that it's now having on you. Unlike celebrities (whom people follow for escapism), influencers are people that were initially sold to us as "people just like us." They were sold to us as "relatable." It's not so easy to turn a blind eye now that they have become just like celebrities.
I agree that the ‘influencer’ market will grow, but it will also evolve. I think YouTube influencers are dying out - but insta / TikTok ads are where the money is.I'd be interested to know what everyone thinks the future is for influencers? I've seen people say on Tattle that they think the 'job' will die out because followers are getting fed up with it. Personally, I can only see it getting bigger.
Personally I wouldn’t choose to use such cartoons when debating a point with someone, seems like a cheap shot & a fish for likes.Well that's a rather invalidating and reductive summary that sort of misses the forest for trees. People were making broader points but alright.
Actually there’s very good evidence that shows social media is quite harmful for people’s mental health (young girls/adolescents in particular) exactly because they are comparing themselves to an unattainable ideal or lifestyle. So it’s clearly not as simple as “choosing” not to compare yourself. That’s great if you’re able to distance yourself and use social media/follow influencers without being susceptible to the negative effects, but it’s very shortsighted to expect others to be able to do the same and quite patronising to be judgmental of people who do struggle with it.I am quite baffled by anyone who claims they feel compelled to compare themselves to her. Choosing to compare yourself to anyone is a choice. Why don’t the same people choose to compare themselves to those who are worse off?
Those who compare themselves to Jess are making the choice to do so. Jess isn’t the girl next door & she never was unlike some influencers. If this makes you feel bad stop watching her.
Ive no doubt that social media is potentially very harmful if you are a vulnerable teenager or in a vulnerable place mentally.Actually there’s very good evidence that shows social media is quite harmful for people’s mental health (young girls/adolescents in particular) exactly because they are comparing themselves to an unattainable ideal or lifestyle. So it’s clearly not as simple as “choosing” not to compare yourself. That’s great if you’re able to distance yourself and use social media/follow influencers without being susceptible to the negative effects, but it’s very shortsighted to expect others to be able to do the same and quite patronising to be judgmental of people who do struggle with it.
youre clearly still missing the bigger picture then.Ive no doubt that social media is potentially very harmful if you are a vulnerable teenager or in a vulnerable place mentally.
I don’t understand why someone Jess’ age chooses to follow her & then gives out about her unattainable lifestyle because of how it makes them feel.
I have reread it. If on the one hand you don’t want to switch off from certain influencers because of how long you have watched them but on the other you realise what influencing has evolved into decide between the two.reread @palmer et al's posts on this. literally touches on this point specifically lmfao.
Could you explain your point to me please?youre clearly still missing the bigger picture then.
IMO you are choosing to miss the point as it has been explained, at length, by several users and I don’t think speaking down to anyone on here is going to lead to a positive or constructive conversation.Could you explain your point to me please?
This is frustrating. I am 100% not choosing to miss the point. 100% not. Can you please explain the key point that you think I am missing in a few sentences?IMO you are choosing to miss the point as it has been explained, at length, by several users and I don’t think speaking down to anyone on here is going to lead to a positive or constructive conversation.
I’d rather get back to Jess, personally!
Hi, pretty sure it's me you're trying to call out here so thought I'd respond and maybe clarify some things for you. I've been watching Jess for about 10 years now. Over that time I've shared experiences with her, moving out, going to uni etc and for a time our lives felt very similar. I've since graduated and got a job. She's since graduated and done a masters, now from as much as I can tell 'influencing' is her full time job. Which is fantastic, it's super impressive that she's managed to grow her audience and make a living from something which was once a hobby. This is essentially the ideal 'dream' for many many people.Ive no doubt that social media is potentially very harmful if you are a vulnerable teenager or in a vulnerable place mentally.
I don’t understand why someone Jess’ age chooses to follow her & then gives out about her unattainable lifestyle because of how it makes them feel.
I'm personally of the opinion that when one comes across a situation which, in their view, reflects a fundamental failure in the way our society works, they should raise it and talk about it rather than choose to "switch off" and ignore under the pretext that "we live in a capitalist society and that's not about to change so just accept it and don't complain." In my view, the situation that we are describing here does reflect a deep failure. The fact that people like Jess are able to sit in their multi-million pound home week after week, month after month, and put in zero work, while others --literally in the same city-- are killing themselves at work and still struggling to make ends meet...IS NOT okay and should not be accepted as a fatality. Economic inequality is a serious issue and it is rising, including in London where Jess lives. It's become increasingly obvious now given the pandemic/recession we're currently going through. The fact that people make money (a disgusting amount of it) off of plastering this obscene lifestyle online for people to watch is frankly not a trivial thing and I believe we should all ask ourselves what it means, what it reflects, the consequences it could have, etc. It is harmful whether you personally feel the effect of it or not. Just because a 'job' exists doesn't make it morally right and doesn't mean we shouldn't question or even criticize the value it adds to society. Just like many people criticize finance jobs for other reasons (for example).This is frustrating. I am 100% not choosing to miss the point. 100% not. Can you please explain the key point that you think I am missing in a few sentences?
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