If I said the words “social media influencer” and you responded with a big eye-roll, I wouldn’t blame you.
With 4.48 billion social media users worldwide, it’s hard to not be exposed to it at some point in time. So, even if you are one of the eye-rollers, chances are good that you have some sort of social media app on your own phone as we speak.
Whether it’s Facebook or Instagram, TikTok or Snapchat, Pinterest or LinkedIn (yes, it’s a more “professional” setting, but it’s still social media), you’ve probably made use of it.
That being said, some people use it much more than others. In fact, studies have indicated that the use of social media can be addictive. No wonder they now have screen time monitors built into our phones. You’d be shocked to go back and see how much time you’ve spent on one of these platforms. A quick check of a notification ping can easily turn into 4 lost hours.
In addition, social media platforms have also become inextricably linked with a multitude of negative connotations. Especially within the female population, social media has been associated with lowered self-esteem, poor body image and issues relating to mental health, to name just a few.
But if it’s so bad for us, why do we continue using it? Simple. It is addictive. And I suppose it’s a form of escapism. Also, we get to see the real lives of celebrities and other influencers.
Or so we think.
Is it real? Or is it staged? Do they really look like that when they wake up? Is the picture really unfiltered? Can her skin really be that flawless? Does she dress like that all the time? The list of questions could be endless.
And here lies the problem. When we start becoming involved in the online lives of other people, we start comparing ourselves to the influencers. We’ll start at the number of followers, the number of likes per post and eventually we’re comparing our entire lifestyle with theirs. And all we have to do to access all this information is to tap our phone’s screens to life. As easy as that.
But what exactly is an ‘influencer’?
According to this recent article in the Influencer Marketing Hub, “Influencers in social media are people who have built a reputation for their knowledge and expertise on a specific topic. They make regular posts about that topic on their preferred social media channels and generate large followings of enthusiastic, engaged people who pay close attention to their views.”
And who are the people being influenced?
More people than you’d think. From the 10-year-old girl flipping through her mom’s phone, to the work-from-home suburban mother of three, all the way to the post-menopausal empty-nester.
Perhaps it’s human nature to compare ourselves to others. And maybe it’s good to want to strive towards a certain goal like the people we follow, such as getting into better shape, or dressing better or having an amazingly organised house.
But if the goal we are striving towards is completely unattainable (because who knows if what we’re seeing is real or not) then we’ll be just be tiring ourselves out more, becoming frustrated because we cannot make the same achievements.
However –
With all that being said, I want to say that it’s not all doom and gloom.
There are some real people out there on the socials. People who strike the balance of being an actual influencer, but at the same time they make you feel good about yourself, make you dream and they give you hope.
As we celebrate Women’s Month this August, here are 3 South African women we would like to highlight.
Candice Manuel
Based in Cape Town, Candice is a model, a business owner, an ambassador for body positivity and (most recently) a first-time mother. She owns a clothing line called Embrace your Curves, as well as her own line of eyelashes called Candashian Lashes.
Even though we see her modelling in the most glamorous settings, wearing the most gorgeous outfits and with amazing hair and make-up, she remains down-to-earth and relatable. She keeps it real and she speaks about relevant topics affecting women today. Through just being herself, she has won over the hearts of many and encourages others to stay true to who they really are.
The Wanderlust Movement
First off, Lauren’s Instagram feed is amaaaazing to look at. With over 18k followers on this platform, she is not what one would call a typical influencer. She doesn’t show us the latest clothing or beauty trends, or any of the things one would usually think of.
She’s a nomad – an adventurer. And she makes you want to live. Lauren goes on amazing trips, takes pictures of it and then blogs about it. In addition, she also hosts various hiking trails as well, most recently advertising the Postberg Overnight Hike.
But what she really does is advocate for location independence. Lauren makes a living as a freelance writer, which in turn allows her to travel to all these great places. Her office is anywhere she is, she makes her own working hours and she’s having a blast doing it. If this sort of lifestyle appeals to you, Lauren (along with fellow freelancer @alicedraper) will be hosting a workshop called Write to Wander in October this year.
Miss Dhanusha
As her tagline says, she helps millennial women prioritise self-care to show up as their best and avoid burnout.
Dhanusha comes across as the typical girl-next-door, which is wonderfully comforting. From health and wellness, relaxation techniques and mental health issues, her posts ultimately provides tips aimed at self-care – which is so greatly needed. In addition, she also hosts a podcast called Conversations with Women of Colour and has a YouTube channel.
I’m not asking you to purge the current list of people you’re following, but perhaps just add these ladies on as well. And on the days when it all becomes a bit too much, head over to their Instagram pages (or any of their other platforms) and allow them to inspire you.
