The world of social media has given rise to a new class of internet celebrities – influencers. By building engaged followings on platforms like YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, top influencers have achieved fame and fortune simply by sharing their daily lives and passions online.
However, the competitive nature of the industry and never-ending appetite for attention from followers has caused some creators to seek validation and boost engagement by escalating stunts to more outrageous levels, and Influencer Gone Wild.
Influencer Gone Wild
When influencers feel the need to constantly one-up themselves and take greater risks just to maintain relevance, it can spiral into a desperate chase for clout that crosses ethical and legal lines. Let’s examine some instances where the pursuit of internet notoriety blinded influencers to the damage of their actions.
Living a Lie for Likes
The rise of Instagram self-promoters showing lavish jet-setting lives was hugely popular, but many were fabricating excess for the camera. Some rented flashy cars and staged elaborate photoshoots merely to imply extravagant wealth that did not truly exist. The deceptions grew to unbelievable levels, with people faking entire exotic getaways or claiming relationships with celebrities through carefully curated photo dumps.
However, once influencers were exposed for misleading followers about their authentic lifestyles, it destroyed credibility and trust in their brands. Going to the extreme of inventing false realities is never justified just to maintain an online persona.
READ: Smoothstack Lawsuit
Pranks Turned Predatory
At one point, YouTube was flooded with prank videos as creators competed to outdo each other with shocking stunts. However, some took pranks to a truly disturbing level, breaching ethics and sometimes even committing crimes. From groping or assaulting unsuspecting victims to disturbing public places with destructive antics, these so-called “pranksters” used unsuspecting members of the public as props without consent solely to provoke a reaction.
While authorities in some jurisdictions took too long to crack down, creators like Jake and Logan Paul faced immense backlash for monetizing harmful content that degraded basic human decency.
Risking Lives for Likes
In the constant drive to one-up past videos, some daredevil influencers began risking their safety and putting others in danger by filming increasingly risky stunts. From climbing 1000ft construction cranes to BASE jumping off cliffs without parachutes, these thrill-seekers treated their lives as mere commodities for clicks.
Tragically, the short-term thrill of internet notoriety cost some creators dearly, with fatal accidents underscoring how little regard was given to long-term consequences. Not to mention the entitlement displayed through recklessly filming themselves driving at high speeds on public roads while livestreaming to audiences.
Context Collapse and Public Backlash
A constant factor pushing influencers to escalate is “context collapse” – the convergence of all followers into a single aggregated feed regardless of relationship. Creators feel pressure to please all audiences simultaneously rather than tailoring content for different circles. However, crossing lines gets amplified in this environment, with controversial incidents spreading rapidly.
When everyday people witnessed blatant disrespect, deception or endangerment, it understandably caused outrage. Public backlash can destroy brands and careers rapidly in today’s online environment. Some creators faced not just criticism but serious legal issues due to negligence or illegality coming to light.
The Desperate Pursuit of Fame and Money
Underlying these reckless behaviors is often the same core motivation – a desperate hunger for attention, money and validation on social platforms. As competition intensifies and the fleeting nature of online fame sets in, some influencers feel they must take greater risks to maintain an engaged audience. The false perception of influencer careers lasting forever can blind them to real-world consequences too.
When likes and dollars become the sole metrics of self-worth, creators may lose sight of integrity and scruples if scandals don’t immediately impact their bottom line. However eventually, going too far is inevitable to have real, damaging effects on brands and reputations if not addressed early on.
Signs It’s Time for Influencers to Reevaluate
For influencers who feel themselves being driven to more outrageous tactics just to boost slipping metrics, it’s an important sign to reassess priorities and well-being. Relying on external validation and numbers on a screen is a recipe for burnout. Creators would benefit from diversifying revenue streams beyond social platforms alone and spend less time consuming comparison-driven social media.
Developing fulfilling interests outside of likes received can foster creativity without desperation. Having candid discussions with trusted friends, advisors or professionals can provide perspective to course-correct before harming others or one’s own future in a volatile industry. While building an online brand is thrilling, true long term success comes from sustainable strategies, not reckless stunts driven by an unsustainable thirst for attention.
Conclusion on Influencer Gone Wild
The highly competitive influencer marketing industry can unfortunately incentivize some social media personalities to compromise integrity in favor of short term metrics. However, sacrificing ethics or safety just to maintain internet notoriety is unsustainable and will damage brands long term once scandals arise.
Creators would benefit from diversifying self worth beyond social stats alone as well as reevaluating priorities before behaviors escalate too far. While fame on platforms like YouTube was unheard of a decade ago, the responsibilities of influence should not be taken lightly in today’s connected world.
With mindful strategies, influencers can still engage audiences online while avoiding the traps of an all consuming, approval-based mindset.
___________________________________________
FAQs About Influencer Gone Wild
Is it always wrong for influencers to take risks?
Not necessarily. Some level of risk-taking is to be expected in thrill-seeking genres like extreme sports. The line is crossed when stunts are done primarily to provoke shock value rather than creative expression, and when proper safety precautions are ignored.
How do influencers deal with online hate and backlash?
It varies person to person, but common coping strategies include taking breaks from social media, focusing on positive comments, surrounding oneself with supportive friends/colleagues, and in some cases seeking therapy. Learning not to derive self-worth from numbers is also important for long term mental health.
What are some positive ways influencers can continue engaging audiences?
Authenticity and consistency are key. Creating quality, thoughtful content in line with one’s values and passions helps build long term connections. Community engagement through comments/polls, youtube livestreams, podcasts/newsletters provide new interactive formats. Diversifying revenue also helps reduce reliance on clout-chasing tactics.
How can influencers avoid burning out from industry pressures?
Maintaining interests outside of social media, prioritizing real world bonds, setting boundaries around work hours, scheduling breaks, pursuing multiple income streams, saying no to unsustainable opportunities, and practicing self-care regularly all help prevent burnout. Therapy can also provide coping mechanisms.
Do influencers have a responsibility to their followers?
As public figures with large platforms, influencers do have some duty to consider impressionable fans and set a positive example. Promoting constructive messages, admitting mistakes, avoiding normalization of harmful behaviors, and putting safety/consent first are ways creators can exercise responsibility conscientiously over blind fame chasing.
