Influencers Being Extra, Sneaky, Or Downright ~Delusional~

Society as a whole has a love-hate relationship with "influencers". We cringe at the word itself, yet most of us probably enthusiastically follow them on social media if they align with our interests. Like anything, there's a spectrum in the world of influencing, from sincere and responsible to the downright delulu, here are some of the worst influencing trends & habits.

1. We first need to address the $45 elephant in the room: The Stanley Quencher.

@Cdevinn / Via youtube.com

You have probably seen the videos from the recent special edition Valentine's Day cups released at Target. There was running, tripping, fighting, even Target employees losing their jobs because they ignored policy and bought the cups when they weren't supposed to. But how did we get here you ask? Influencers. The masses didn't wake up one morning suddenly wanting, nay NEEDING, this pricey reusable cup. No, they were influenced to want it. Stanley as a brand has been around for 100+ years, most of that time they catered to outdoors enthusiasts and blue collar workers who had a need for their beverages to retain their temperature for a long time. Then in 2016, the Stanley was featured on the blog "The Buy Guide" and has been exploding ever since, with sales going from the $70mil range to over $700mil - largely thanks to millennial women who saw something on TikTok or IG and JUST HAD TO HAVE IT. But it doesn't stop there. Because one Stanley isn't enough anymore, and some influencers are creating content entirely around their vast Stanley collections. All of this of course only fuels rampant over-consumption, because nobody needs to own 18 $45 tumblers. Especially when your Hydroflask, which was very cool only a few short years ago, is still very much functional.

2. P.S. It's not just the cups!

XANDZ; MONKLE / SASHA PURDY / Via stylecaster.com

Influencers have been promoting Stanley cup ACCESSORIES such as decorative charms, straw caps, sleeves to hold phones or credit cards, and even a tray to hold snacks! Remember, the point of reusable water bottles is to reduce our waste, not to over consume and overspend on little plastic niche accessories that we do not need and will likely just end up in a landfill.

3. Comment "link" below and I'll DM you! :/

BRITTY ROSE / Via instagram.com

Link mania is upon us. Influencers are very good at what they do. They can post a GRWM video that feels authentic and real, as if we're really just doing our makeup with our best friend. Their eyelashes look great, their hair looks healthy, what products are they using, you ask yourself!? Lucky for you, their caption says "comment "link" below and I'll send you links to all the products I'm using!". Sneaky sneaky. They could very easily just list the products right then and there. But by having everyone comment, the algorithm gods think it's a popular video and will push it out to more and more people. This also puts you in a direct DM with the influencer who can send you their specific affiliate link. Because they don't just sincerely love a product and want to share it with you, it's a hussle and they stand to make a profit. (I'm not saying you shouldn't purchase from affiliate links if it's something you truly want or need, just be aware of the intention behind these types of posts. Their intention is to make money from you, period.)

4. Influencers who think they're more famous than they are, and charging a LOT of $$$$ for subpar products and services.

EMILY MARIKO / Via @EMILYMARIKO / TikTok

Famously, influencer Emily Mariko recently launched her own tote bag for a whopping $120. It is quite literally a plain canvas tote bag. Oh, and it SOLD OUT, which is really just encouraging this type of nonsense. Not to mention all of the influencers selling pricey "courses" where they promise to teach you their ways. Or fitness influencers selling "custom" workout or meal plans only to learn they were pushing out cookie cutter plans to everyone regardless of physical ability, medical conditions, nutritional needs, history of eating disorders, etc. (We're looking at you Brittany Dawn!)

5. Honestly, we can have a whole section for Brittany Dawn.

Brittany Dawn / Via yahoo.com

If you aren't familiar, she was a very successful fitness influencer who claimed to create personalized fitness plans, nutrition guides, and even access to text communications directly with Brittany. When clients started sharing stories with each other online, they realized they had all received the exact same plans and messages from Brittany, even those who disclosed to her a history of disordered eating. She was ultimately sued by the Texas Attorney General for violating consumer protection laws, which was settled in 2023 for $400K. She has since pivoted to creating Christian influencer content and continues to have a fan base in that arena to this day. (There's way more if you want to go down the rabbit hole, including her allegedly exploiting her foster child for social media, her pivot to hosting pricey "religious retreats" for her followers, her husband shooting and killing the family dog, and much more.)

6. Fitfluencers and the culture of filming in the gym.

Joey Swoll / Via distractify.com

Fitness influencers are a divisive topic. On one hand, they make fitness content accessible and many of them post fantastic tutorials that truly help a lot of people. But lately, there's been a trend of "fitfluencers" posting candid footage of themselves in the gym and complaining about people staring or walking in front of their camera. In these videos they seem to be expecting sympathy from their audience. Look, many people feel extremely vulnerable at the gym as it is, so they may stare and be uncomfortable when they suddenly see a tripod set up in their vicinity, realizing they may be in the background of the footage without their consent. Bottom line, if you go to a public space, you can't then be mad that the public is there. The gym is not your closed film set. If you must film, be considerate about it!

7. The "Trad Wife" social media boom.

Estee Williams / Via TikTok

This is a relatively new phenomenon. Picture 1950's white, Christian, stay at home wives, homeschooling their kids, and happily falling into "traditional" gender roles. There is a lot of discourse about how the "trad wife" trend is directly tied to conservative, if not alt-right, ideals. Made famous by the likes of Ballerina Farm, aka Hannah Neeleman, who has nearly 9 million followers on IG, the trend has a much more insidious unbelly than Hannah, her 8 kids, and her cows and ducks. For one, it reinvigorates the so-called "mommy wars" pitting the working moms against the ones who chose to and are privileged enough to stay home. Second, many openly promote the idea of women fully "submitting" to their husband, even in the face of unhappiness, abuse, or infidelity.

8. Influencers charging "shopping fees" and going live inside TJ Maxx, Home Goods, and more.

Kiki Chanel / Via youtube.com

I don't know about you, but strolling around Marshals or TJ Maxx smelling candles is peak self care for me. But a new trend allows you to "shop" through your favorite lifestyle influencer while they walk through the store while going live on social media. Followers will literally pay in real time the cost of the item + a host of finders type fees for ceramic mugs or holiday Grinch bowls. This leads to the influencer literally buying out entire stocks of items and leaving with multiple shopping carts filled to the brim. Now don't get me wrong, I can respect the hustle I guess, but we have to acknowledge the absurdity. If you're interested, Kiki Chanel does a great deep dive on this phenomenon.

9. Lastly, THE OVER-CONSUMPTION OF IT ALL.

TikTok / Via dbknews.com

At the end of the day, influencers are working their job. They are constantly evolving to find new, innovative, or even sneaky ways to influence your buying behavior, because they stand to gain a profit. Be mindful when you consume this content, always consider their motive and whether or not they are showing you something you really truly need, because chances are, you don't need it, it won't bring you happiness or change your life. So keep that Hydroflask :)