Being a social media influencer requires a lot of hard work and dedication. You must live and breathe the persona you embody, and sometimes, doing so can carry undesirable consequences.
It's something this man has grown way too familiar with. He had been dealing with his influencer girlfriend for the last six months and had seen everything that had been happening behind the scenes. That includes the fake persona she had been presenting to the camera, as well as her ugly side behind it.
A man shared his displeasing experiences with his influencer girlfriend
Image credits: triangleprod (not the actual photo)
He went on to expose the fake persona she had been putting on
Image credits: freepik (not the actual photo)
The experience taught him a valuable lesson, which he also shared
Image credits: doesanyofthismatter
The importance of abiding by algorithms and the necessity to entertain the audience are key considerations for influencers
You’ve likely heard the same story of an influencer’s manufactured, heavily-filtered persona. The author’s girlfriend is one of the many cases of people who put on a mask when they’re in front of the camera, an image that is entirely different from who they truly are.
As our experts have noted, authenticity is still the name of the game. However, the importance of algorithms and entertainment creates a conflicting objective for influencers.
“Brands realize that their audience wants to be entertained 24/7, 365 days a year, but that is just not humanly possible, making these ‘virtual influencers' the perfect solution to a puzzling query,” marketing professional and Marygrove.com CMO Josh Eberly told Bored Panda.
Former TikTok employee and House of Marketers managing director Iñigo Rivero added that while algorithms initially focused on “perfect visual content,” which resulted in expectations for “flawless” appearances, viewers can still see through the fakery.
“The ‘curated authenticity' creates stronger connections with followers because it presents brand messages in an authentic way,” he stated.
Zenius co-founder Rohit Agarwal noticed a shift among creators, focusing on the visuals rather than the content itself. As a veteran in the marketing industry with over a decade of experience under his belt, he says it has done more harm than good.
“Audiences are engaging more with lesser-known influencers who produce small-scale content reminiscent of the early days of social media, as popular creators fixate on having every frame look perfect,” he explained.
Regarding authenticity, Uniyield founder and digital growth strategy expert Seun Osho says that authenticity in today's social media age is different.
As he explained, creators are putting on a “sense of controlled vulnerability” where they reveal their weaknesses in a “moderated method.” This perfectly describes what the author’s girlfriend showed by all accounts.
Social media may support the development of narcissistic characteristics
The woman’s efforts to go to great lengths and put on the “mask” for the camera have gone too far, as the author noted. According to licensed therapist Matthew Bernarda, the nature of her work may encourage narcissistic behavior, which was what she was likely showing.
“People who need social validation through likes to survive in their work environment start to forget what genuine behavior looks like,” he stated, noting how the need for external approval may overshadow the person’s ability to be vulnerable.
Yet, despite what could easily be warning signs for a tumultuous life episode, the author seemed to have turned a blind eye. However, no expert would advise pursuing a relationship with a possible narcissist.
“You can be in a relationship with a narcissist. You can also eat gas station sushi. I wouldn't recommend either,” leadership coach and TEDx speaker Ginny Priem quipped.
Licensed professional counselor Christian Shearer calls it a mistake, primarily because narcissists don’t respect the rights and autonomy of others.
“If an influencer shows those tendencies in their content-if they're invasive and entitled- it's a huge red flag,” he said.
At this point, the author can gradually distance himself from his girlfriend before eventually ending things. The fallout may be ugly, but he knows the truth. And given her seeming focus and intent on putting on a front, things can only get worse moving forward.
People in the comments shared their reactions as the author responded to some of them
