[woogiewonka]

These "influencers" and their instagram accounts are so cringeworthy. How can anyone live their life like this, constantly posing and putting on an image? This can't be healthy. I get the money making aspect and getting paid to do something like travel.. but at what point does posing for glamour shots take away the fun of enjoying the places you go? Why do people follow these people? I don't get it...

[robertAngst]

> but at what point does posing for glamour shots take away the fun of enjoying the places you go? Why do people follow these people? I don't get it...

That is exactly it, it becomes a job.

Its not really different than watching cable TV and hearing someone review a travel destination.

>This can't be healthy.

I think this is 'grass is greener on the other side' effect. What makes traveling and growing your influence unhealthy?

Its that we want this ideal lifestyle, and are jealous(?).

Whatever the case, most people are not making even 6 figures off their instagram accounts by just posting pictures. OP's article talked about offering an additional service.

[PavlovsCat]

> Its not really different than watching cable TV and hearing someone review a travel destination.

Hmm. First video I looked at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TOltq6OgR4

After the "intro" -- which isn't exactly like someone (who isn't Paris Hilton or Stefan Raab etc.) reviewing anything in earnest -- it's just the usual half-coherent babbling most youtubers do. You don't fly a TV team to a destination and then just scratch your ass and drop sentences any random person interviewed on the street would say. That's not a "review", even for TV standards which are hardly anything to aspire to.

Youtube is much dumber than TV, just enter "game name review", and depending on the game most of it will be people playing a game, badly, sometimes without even talking, and when they talk, it's not a "review" at all, but "hi guys, my dog is cute, I'm bringing you the best reviews please subscribe, I'm about to review this game, okay I'm now reviewing this game, it's a game, it sucks and has many flaws but I enjoyed it, please leave a like, thanks for watching".

The best are the people who cut out every breath they take, every moment they think (or maybe they just go blank, who knows), and then they still manage to say not a single thing in 15 minutes.

> What makes traveling and growing your influence unhealthy?

That was referring to "constantly posing and putting on an image". If that's so great, why do you have to rephrase it first?

And what is "growing your influence"? I see a lot of people with NO grip on themselves, what influence do they have? Isn't Alex Jones also having a healthy career by that same token? A bunch of "followers", "just growing influence". They must be providing value, because they "make 6 figures".

> Its that we want this ideal lifestyle, and are jealous(?).

Turning oneself into the equivalent of a Teletubbie? No, thanks.

When someone makes it clear they find it cringey and would not enjoy "being that", maybe first accept that that is actually so. When someone says "I hate this, why would anyone do this?", don't say "Don't you actually love it though? whatever the case may be.."

Seeing a lot of these personalities that are anything but a personality, I think that's the main reason really, that they have no personality, no thoughts, but a long life to fill with that nothing. That makes people hyper, and people who are likewise lost cling to that bubbling nothing to distract them from the fear that sits squarely upon their neck as well. It's not driven by idiocy, fear drives the idiocy. Watching 99% of youtube to me is like watching a blob of water in an overheated pan gliding around on air. The question isn't where is it going, but what is it running from.

[maxxxxx]

I myself have no desire to live that lifestyle but when you think about, it probably beats most office jobs by far.

[spaceflunky]

By what measure? All you see is a framed seconds. What you don't see is all the hours these influencers spend begging someone, anyone to give them a freebie or some kind of support. Then they get the free hotel room, and they spend the rest of the time on shitty wifi trying to line up the next freebie. Then when you add up all the time they spent, it works out to probably be below minimum wage. There is no way some nobody with even 1MM followers is making a sustainable living and saving the future.

Sure, these people get to go places, but are they ever really looking at it through the eyes of relaxation? It just seems miserable to me actually. I feel the same way about actors, the job of acting actually sucks, but at least they get million dollar payouts at the end. The instagram 'stars' are lucky to get a free hotel room and a discounted flight.

[maxxxxx]

As I said I don't find that lifestyle desirable but it still may beat commuting 2 hours each day and sitting in an office.