Influencer does not equal expert. Remember the good ol days when you had a question or concern, you would turn to someone who was an expert in the field. Someone with a degree, or at the very least someone who had years of applied, world expertise. I was listening to Brene Browns podcast this morning and something she said really stood out. If I am being honest, everything Brene says stands out to me…but this comment made an impact most likely because I have been having the same feelings. She has created a beautiful podcast series around social media, AI and are we really ready for this stuff. Brene took a year off of social media and one of the catalysts for her break was she has been navigating her mothers diagnosis of dementia. She mentions she was inundated with “experts” on social media telling her various “fixes” and “cures” for her moms dementia. One of those cures involved eating more quinoa and blueberries. And when you have a loved one that is suffering, or you personally are looking for answers…having access to 1000’s of “experts” at your finger tips feels like movement. It feels empowering. It feels like hope. Until it doesn’t. It begins to breed confusion, exhaustion and overwhelm. Not to mention frustration that begins to feel a bit like “who the hell lets these people snake charm their way into peoples lives?”
Anyone can become an “influencer”. Social media platforms have provided a space for individuals to showcase their talents, hobbies and personal experiences. I do not ever want to discount personal experience, or self driven research. There are so many individuals that are experts in what they do and do not have a degree in the subject matter. But what happens is the sheer overwhelm of fly by night influencers with a few months of “expertise” and just enough charisma, relatability and aesthetically pleasing content to gain popularity. In other words, it looks pretty on the outside but probably not a whole lot of experience underneath. This can be dangerous. We must take a look at authenticity versus credibility. Influencers are known for their authenticity and relatability. This is a key factor in their success. However, authenticity does not always translate to credibility. While influencers may have personal anecdotes and experiences to share, their opinions may not be based on thorough research, scientific evidence or professional experience. As someone who has a social work degree, and now works as a family and teen coach, it is frightening to me the number of online “coaches” that do not have a degree, and do not have years of experience or certifications, marketing their counseling skills to families. I do not have a “degree” in the specialty around social media conversations and safety that I bring to the table within my sessions. But I do have over a decade of experience working with families around these issues in private settings. And I did not include this specialty until I had years of work behind me.
Which brings me to the importance of critical thinking. It is essential for consumers of social media to exercise critical thinking when evaluating information shared by influencers. Instead of blindly accepting their recommendations, it is crucial to verify facts, seek other expert opinions and consider multiple perspectives before taking an influencers advice. We know that experts are individuals that dedicate their time, education and experience to a particular field. They possess in depth knowledge, skills and qualifications that allow them to provide accurate and reliable information. One of the best things we can do as a consumer is to recognize the vast difference between influencers and experts. We can make informed decisions based on reliable sources of information, rather than being swayed solely by the popularity or charisma of influencers. In other words, be damn careful of the snake oil swillers of today’s generation. They are the same as they were 100’s of years ago…just dressed in prettier clothes and they no longer have to knock on your door to get in to your home.