The Rotting Influencer Economy

Описание: If being famous on the internet pays less than minimum wage, why are millions still chasing it?

Show Notes:

This week we wade into the decaying waters of the influencer economy, where being liked, followed, and algorithmically blessed doesn’t guarantee rent money. We’ll start with a look at the early promises of the social media boom (back when YouTube and Instagram offered a clear path to monetizing creativity). But what about now? Now, the platforms are saturated, the money is drying up, the big tech companies are sharing less with the creators, and most “influencers” are quietly drowning in debt or burnout.

We’ll also explore how the golden age of influencer culture collapsed into a gig economy built on illusion: TikTokers with millions of views who can’t afford groceries, “viral” stars being evicted, and stars like Mr Beast and Liver King who pander to teenagers and young impressionable males with access to their parent’s credit card. Meanwhile, companies are demanding more content for less pay, and platforms keep shifting the rules to maximize ad dollars at creators’ expense. The result? A rotting pyramid scheme where the top 0.1% thrive, and everyone else is stuck churning out content no one sees.

Finally, we unpack the psychological wreckage of chasing online fame in a post-influencer world. What happens when your identity, your income, and your sense of purpose are tied to metrics you can’t control? Why do so many creators stay in the game even when it’s killing their confidence and their art? And if being an “influencer” is just a new form of unpaid labor…what comes next?

Links:
   • The Influencer Bubble  
https://www.the-independent.com/life-...
https://nypost.com/2023/11/11/lifesty...
https://www.publicist.co/the-spin/the...
https://www.nature.com/articles/s4159...
   • Cultural Nihilism and the Rise of The Grifter