Like. Comment. Subscribe. These are the words we hear when we watch a YouTube video. On TikTok, the hashtag #fyp (meaning “for you page”) often appears in the caption of a post. All of these little nuggets are constantly used by influencers when they make their content. Social media has evolved to the point where content creators can monetize their art form. Now, social media is used for reporting news, and social media users, especially Gen Z, are gobbling up that information.
Social media influencers make content in all kinds of focus areas and genres. There are four main levels of influencers. Starting at the top, there are mega influencers who have 1 million+ followers and are making the most money. Most celebrities fall under this category, and most of the content they make costs the most to produce. Mr. Beast is a perfect example.
Macro influencers, 100,000 to 1 million followers, have established and wide-ranging fanbases. They also know their place in the influencer world, spreading awareness for causes that need it. Micro influencers, 10,000 to 100,000 followers, are not as popular or well known as the first two types, but are typically focused on one specific topic (tech, automotive, travel, etc.) The smallest are the nano influencers, 1,000 to 10,000 followers, and they have a loyal and committed fan base.
Over time, influencers have shifted from purely content creation to more activism based content. With the heavy onslaught of negative and depressing news from around the world, social media feeds are filled with influencers giving their takes on these important issues. A huge increase in partisan social media accounts has polarized the influencing community.
I have social media, but I don’t use TikTok. The last few years have been rough for TikTok. I don’t blame them when their CEO had their nationality questioned by our federal government at a congressional hearing. I just prefer to not use TikTok, but most people my age use it. In case you don’t know how your feeds work, there is this thing called an algorithm. In simple terms, the algorithm decides what you see based on what you interact with. For example, if you love animals, you probably follow accounts about animals, therefore your feed will contain posts about animals.
A huge part of being an influencer is having the option to be a spokesperson for different companies. Many of the well-known influencers represent all of the popular companies and brands that are in high demand. Athletic wear, sports drinks, fast food chains, and other brands choose famous influencers over actors and celebrities to make ads on their behalf.
Influencer culture may be the future of news distribution, but it is still one of the most popular ways to make a living. Want to go to award shows, Super Bowls or press conferences for the biggest news events in the world? Become an influencer and introduce yourself to the next generation of news seekers.
