Surfing through my social media feeds i am but struck by the number of influencers who seem to be shaping,influencing and molding the public opinion.
Here in Nigeria where I am from,influencers have become and are a vital part of our online culture,with thousands and millions of followers holding onto their every word...
But now the thing is... "what exactly is the role of influencers in our current society?.
Are they just simply selling or promoting products,goods and services,or are they playing a more significant role in shaping us?
Then,when i was growing up,I cpuld recall when social media was still in its early stage .My dad would go out to buy newspapers early in the morning, because that and others like radio and television was what we relied on for news and entertainments.But with the emergence of social media platforms like Instagram,Twitter,Facebook and the likes,everything changed.
And anyone with a smartphone and with an internet connection could become a publisher,sharing thoughts,opinions,experiences,routines and all with a global audience.And that's how influencer have come to be ,leveraging on the media,to build massive followings and gather great influence.
In Nigeria here,influencers have become particularly capable and good at using their platforms to promote goods and services.They partner with various brands to showcase their wares,services and all,often using their "captivating aura" or charm and creativity to make the products look irresistible.
For instance,the popular Nigerian influencer,"Tunde Ednut,he has over 2 million followers on Instagram,he (Ednut)has built a reputation as one of the most influential voices in the Nigeria social media,he most times partners with brands to promote their products,using his infectious personality to make the products look irresistible. And its not just products,Tunde Ednut also uses his platform to promote some social causes like advocating for social justice and supporting up coming artists,especially musicians.
The role of influencers in our society goes beyond just promoting products and services.They are also playing a significant role in shaping us.
They are using their platforms to promote diversity and social justice,most times using their influence to bring attention to important social issues.
One instance is during the # EndSARS protests here in Nigeria, minfluencers played a major role in mobilizing support and raising awareness about the movement,using their platforms to share information,coordinate and provide support.
One of the biggest concerns is the lack of accountability and transparency in the influencer marketing space,many influencers promoting products and services without disclosing their relationships with the brands would be difficult for consumers to know what's real and what's just an advertisement.And with the amount of crowd they have gathered and what they are doing,people would defdefinitely want to trust them "blindly".
Despite all,it is very obvious that influencers are here to stay,and as the society continues to evolve and with more change.As we move forward,influencerse should prioritize transparency,accountability,authenticity in thier space,and also ensure that they(influencers)are using their platforms to promote positive change.
While they are often seen as just promoting goods and services,it's obvious that they are playing a much more significant role in shaping us,we should recognized that they have limitations too...
Everyone one of us,one way or the other are influencing those around us,so let's check it and see what we are impacting or promoting also..
There are various entries organized by @leogrowth.
This post is in collaboration with @hive-argentina
community and an entry to day 28 of #novemberinleo in #inleo,I am inviting you also to a check it out,so as to partake in various interesting writing prompts.
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