Rihanna argued to buy a shampoo suggested by her favourite followed Instagram influencer. Her mother explained her about the chemicals the shampoo contained but in vain. She was not ready to hear a word. Finally she ordered it and found out her mother was correct. She not only faced hair fall problem but also doubted whether the influencer she considered an ideal really cared about his followers!
People always had ideals to follow and they aimed to become like them. These ideals used to be people at great positions who accomplished and conquered which nobody thought they could and yet they were so down to earth. They were the Real Influencers and rather can be called Leaders as they changed lives of people for the better.
Consider Gandhiji who himself experimented on everything and then asked others to do so. This would not only have an everlasting effect on people but also nobody could raise a finger on him.
Times have changed, with years passing by we have Social Media Influencers. Like the name suggests they influence people on social media to do things, participate in specific events, buy particular products and much more...
People follow them blindly wearing whatever they wear, watching whatever they watch, buying everything they suggest and there have been numerous cases where these so called "Social Media Influencers" provoked people and tried to instigate them to fight for their religion, caste and what not. These influencers divide people on the basis of racism by promoting products that make you fair and fairer. All their social media posts include branded clothes, luxury cars and other items which negatively impact teenagers and people to buy them and be like them forgetting what their financial status and affordability is.
Is this what influencing is or should be?
Is this what social media was made for? to spread hatred and misinformation?
Leader and people who influenced the society for example president Abdul Kalam, Swami Vivekananda had visions and they change the society for the better. They taught people to be together. They taught people through experiences and motivated them to become assets for the society and nation.
A famous quote says "promote what you love instead of bashing what you hate".
It is a basic human tendency to have opinions that differ from others but that doesn't mean harmimg others would resolve that. These things should be accepted as they are. There is nothing you can do on what others think.
To make this world a better place we should always think and act. Blindly following somebody will always cause harm to us and our loved ones so we should be careful.
There is a huge difference between influencing the society and social media influencers. The gap between the two is really a large one as of now and to fill this gap everything needs to be realistic and people should start caring for each other and promote just love and harmony.
