blog post #11

 EOTO: What I Learned

For the second EOTO presentation, my group researched and presented aspects of the 'media-sphere. I found this topic so interesting. We presented on topics such as Whistleblowers, Online-influencers, alternative media, and mainstream media. However, the online influencers presented by Claire are what stood out to me the most. 

Throughout the semester, I have learned so much about the importance of online influencers and the impact they have on companies and brands through advertisement. This is why I was so interested in the topic of online influencers in the media sphere. When I think of an online influencer the first person who always comes to mind is Kim Kardashian. This is because she has promoted and posted so much content on specific brands, and we hear how much she can make on just a singular post. But there are many forms of what an influencer can be. there are mega, macro, and micro-influencers. They all have the capability of success for a brand, but it depends on the money a company wants to give to the influencer to create the most benefit for the brand as a whole. 

An online influencer is a user on social media who has established credibility in a specific industry. these influencers have access to a large audience and can persuade their audience by virtue of their authenticity and reach. Depending on who the influencer is, and what their main focus is, affects who the audience will be. Examples of specific influencers are gamers who are on platforms such as Twitch and live streaming, Ticktockers, YouTubers, beauty gurus, bloggers, celebrities, sports professionals, etc. Many influencers actually make a living with their earrings on their social media posts. There are influencer types like brand association, content creators, brand ambassadors, affiliate marketing, social media takeovers, and giveaways. 

Even though being an online influencer may seem great and easy, there are downsides that come with it for the influencer and the company itself. If you are a big celebrity and influence online, there can be a lot of hate and bullying comments attached to this person. There are cases of harassment, invasion of privacy, racism, and a lot of body shaming. One of my favorite influencers is a plus-size woman who does clothing halls for inclusive clothing brands. She is hilarious and upbeat, but recently she has been posting content where she is upset about all the body-shaming comments she is getting. The invasion of privacy for influencers is tremendous, they almost have no private life due to everyone commenting and watching every movement they make. Also, rumors can be spread that are not true, which can lead to a canceled culture. For the company itself, there can be a false advertisement, and a negative advertisement, which can be a down-fall for a company as well.