Have you seen an ad recently on Insta or Tik Tok telling you not to buy something?
It's the rise of the so-called 'deinfluencer' - social content telling us not to buy things we just don't need or that are not worth the money. Content with #deinfluencing has been viewed over 100 million times on TikTok. There was an interesting piece in The Guardian about the trend (read it here).
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for buying less - but there is something about creators using their power to sway people not to purchase things that I don't trust. It feels like a socially conscious ploy to build an audience. Especially, after slamming products they don't like, many deinfluencers redirect followers to other products! It seems like influencing in sheep's clothing.
Trust comes from an alignment of intentions and interests.
Are deinfluencers motives really aligned with the best interests of their audiences? Mmm, not sure.
Question for you: Do you think this trend is genuinely an antidote to our culture of overconsumption? Join the conversation below.
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Whether to do or not to do sth, if many of us are getting their key opinions from social media, I guess this shows how our culture has now arrived at a point where we do not ask our bodies, minds and hearts what they need and just solely stare outside for ideas, insights and stimulation.
Great share, Rachel. De-influencing is influencing. Many will buy based on the opposite, if there is trust and authenticity in the digital footprint of the de-influencer.
I have to admit I have not seen any deinfluencing. I would consider the deinfluencers as an anecdote in a way, reaction to the onslaught of advertising social media, streaming services and all media has adopted. Or negative advertising, which is prevalent. The five second add that disallows skipping. Very clever. As a counter-consumer and American I have grown numb to influencers or deinfluencers regarding sales of stuff. My influencers remain Mark Twain, C.S Lewis, Sir Ken Robinson and others. Call me old-fashioned.
I would agree that this is simply another form of influencing, and in fact, I think it's important that we stop using the word "deinfluencing" to describe this trend, and replace it with "redirecting." I realise it doesn't sound quite as sexy though:-)
Yes, exactly Rachel. I wasn't familiar with the trend but if they're recommending other products after -- totally agree. Are there any large accounts more in the "Consumer Reports" world? To me, that'd be interesting. How are they (or are they) making money? Is their 'ploy' to grow the audience and then SELL to them? Or are they crowdfunding or doing some other way of aligning incentives?
Whether to do or not to do sth, if many of us are getting their key opinions from social media, I guess this shows how our culture has now arrived at a point where we do not ask our bodies, minds and hearts what they need and just solely stare outside for ideas, insights and stimulation.
Great share, Rachel. De-influencing is influencing. Many will buy based on the opposite, if there is trust and authenticity in the digital footprint of the de-influencer.
I have to admit I have not seen any deinfluencing. I would consider the deinfluencers as an anecdote in a way, reaction to the onslaught of advertising social media, streaming services and all media has adopted. Or negative advertising, which is prevalent. The five second add that disallows skipping. Very clever. As a counter-consumer and American I have grown numb to influencers or deinfluencers regarding sales of stuff. My influencers remain Mark Twain, C.S Lewis, Sir Ken Robinson and others. Call me old-fashioned.
I guess I'm old. I'm influenced by the people I come in contact in the physical world.
I would agree that this is simply another form of influencing, and in fact, I think it's important that we stop using the word "deinfluencing" to describe this trend, and replace it with "redirecting." I realise it doesn't sound quite as sexy though:-)
Yes, exactly Rachel. I wasn't familiar with the trend but if they're recommending other products after -- totally agree. Are there any large accounts more in the "Consumer Reports" world? To me, that'd be interesting. How are they (or are they) making money? Is their 'ploy' to grow the audience and then SELL to them? Or are they crowdfunding or doing some other way of aligning incentives?