Social Media Influencing; lj 8.
Personally, I do not feel that I want to be any kind of social media influencer or be the one that people take my experiences and decisions to use in their own daily life. I have personally worked in the entertainment industry when I lived in Los Angeles and know how social media can be manipulated to control people lives. Some of the readings this week hit my subconscious more than others. I personally have some of people on my Facebook page that are in the entertainment industry that have had television shows made about them and know that how they act on the reality show is truly not their true self. Jay Krymis who is the star of the reality show “In the Big House” is a friend from when I lived in Los Angeles and is also a social media influencer who has starred in many different television shows and movies. When I use to sit and watch his reality show it was always funny to watch how stupid he acted knowing that he is actually a very intelligent person who would never act that way.
The problem with social media and how people always put their lives out there as an act to attract more observers to the false reality that they want to portray themselves as. I have for some time had a problem with social media and the ways that people and ourselves use it to manipulate us and those around ourselves.
There is a motivational speaker Jay Shetty who I have watched for years and some of his videos got me thinking about how instead of a device to help us the internet and social media has become a tool to control us instead. There is one of his videos that features the focus of "Spend more time with people who make you forget to look at your phone." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReyEU06e5PU – He discusses how we use social media for attention instead of the energy that we should be sharing with others instead of just our time. He ends the video saying that you can’t accomplish he big things if you are always distracted by the small ones. Then there is another one which even relates to a couple that uses social media and trying to get content to be influencers that end up destroying their relationship. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hddm4x6Tjrk – Social media has become more of a smokescreen that people use to show you what people want to see instead of what they actually need to see. I feel that if you are using it to influence people then you could be influencing them to take a route that even you are unhappy in yourself. Sometimes social media can even mask if people are having mental health issues and we get so caught up in what we think is going on then what the reality is. He also has a video where he discusses this point of view as well - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_RGJS91Qsg
I know this week I went over the limit but felt it was easier to fully explain my viewpoint on how some social media can be used to be a positive influence, but then also show the devil’s advocate of myself and show how it can be used in the wrong ways.
Hello Bryan!
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned having worked in the entertainment industry before, so I'm sure that's definitely given you more of an insight to how things really are versus how people typically think they are besides just how actors might seem. That's really neat to hear that you're friends with some big people though! I could definitely understand how that might shape how you reacted to the readings this week and your lack of interest in a career in that field. I agree though, people online want to post and idealized version of their life rather than what their life is actually like. It's truly just a continuation of the 'act like a perfect family' people in older generations tried to show off in the ways of their times. I'll definitely check into the videos that you shared. Even if you did go over the limit, I think it was definitely worth it to give proper attention to the things you wanted to say. Excellent work!
Hello Bryan,
ReplyDeleteI respect that you decided to share your own experience in regards to influencers and social platforms. I myself also find it rather difficult to listen to those social media stars, let alone being influenced by them. To me social media is just another product created by big corporations, with no other agenda than to make profits. Therefore it is easy to see how these companies like to seek out influencers with large followers, all for the purpose of promoting and marketing their products. It is fine if people find influencers entertaining and worth watching, but I would not take products that they advertise seriously.
Hello Brysn.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you. It is hard to trust or want to buy anything that influencers are promoting because there is a good chance they're just getting paid to promote it and don't even like the product. I definitely have to do my own research before listening to what influencers are saying.
Hi Bryan, I really enjoyed reading your post! I do agree social media can be manipulative to control people's lives. It is something we should be careful with and control ourselves when browsing through the web.
ReplyDeleteHello Bryan,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you in the sense that i would not want to be a social media influencer, i feel as though it brings you a lot of stress and pressure to meet others standards.