The Toxic Side of Influencer Influence and the Urgency for Accountability

“Influencers work super hard to make their lives believable, desirable and hence, ripe for emulation.”

Influencers are the bane of our existence. They sell us an unrealistic and unattainable lifestyle, while pretending to be our best friends. They lure us in with their perfect bodies, luxurious homes, and expensive products. But what they don't tell us is that it's all a facade, carefully curated and marketed to make us feel inferior and insecure about our own lives.

And now, we have to deal with their unsolicited and unqualified advice on mental health. Influencers like Santoshi Shetty think they can cure our depression and anxiety with a snap of their fingers, all while charging us exorbitant fees for their "positive vibes". It's not a mistake, it's a calculated move to exploit vulnerable and impressionable young minds.

These influencers live in a bubble of privilege, completely disconnected from the harsh realities of the world. They think their lavish lifestyles and designer clothes make them experts on everything, from beauty to relationships to mental health. But what they fail to realize is that their privilege is not a qualification, it's a privilege. And it's time we burst their bubble and put an end to their toxic influence.

The issue isn't new. Fashion influencer Santoshi Shetty recently received flak for starting an initiative where she offered to give therapy sessions for Rs 1,500. It perpetuates irresponsibility without regard for the potential consequences. Shetty's foray into mental health advice wasn't an oversight; it was a calculated maneuver born out of a deep understanding of her privilege. With a staggering 712,000 followers, she stands on a platform that could be used responsibly to foster discussions about mental health. Instead, she chose to offer quack-like services, exploiting her followers with the same finesse she markets beauty products.

“It is not like Shetty inhabits an ecosystem where mental health isn’t discussed or she lacks access to accurate information about it.”

Let's talk about the elephant in the room - cancel culture. Influencers like to use this term to deflect any criticism and accountability for their actions. They cry about being "cancelled" and how it affects their livelihood, conveniently forgetting that their livelihood is built on lies and superficiality. But we're not here to cancel them, we're here to hold them accountable.

This isn't an isolated incident. Influencers, often privileged and detached from reality, routinely propagate regressive and belittling ideas, like Komal Pandey criticizing her house help on Twitter. The selective application of 'cancel culture' conveniently protects those with more social capital, leaving no room for the less privileged to contest or respond. Komal Pandey wants us to believe that cancel culture is violent and destructive. But what's truly destructive is their constant need for validation and attention, at the cost of exploiting and manipulating their followers. They want us to believe that they are our friends, but in reality, they are nothing but marketing machines, selling us a false sense of happiness and fulfillment.

It's time we stop falling for their carefully crafted personas and start seeing them for who they really are - opportunistic and manipulative individuals. They use their "relatable" content to gain our trust and then exploit it for their own gain. They don't care about our well-being, they only care about their own fame and fortune.

And let's not forget the hypocrisy of these influencers. They preach about body positivity and self-love, while simultaneously promoting unrealistic beauty standards and promoting products that only perpetuate these standards. They talk about feminism, but only when it's convenient for their brand. They claim to be advocates for mental health, but only to make a quick buck.

Influencers like Santoshi Shetty and Komal Pandey are just the tip of the iceberg. There are countless others like them, selling us a dream that is unattainable and damaging to our mental health. They don't care about the impact of their actions, as long as they continue to profit from it.

But it's time we take back our power and stop giving these influencers a platform. It's time we stop idolizing them and start seeing them for what they truly are - privileged and entitled individuals who have no business giving out advice on anything, let alone mental health.

We need to stop consuming their content and supporting their brands. We need to stop giving them the attention and validation they so desperately crave. It's time we start focusing on real issues and real people, instead of these manufactured and superficial personas.

So, to all the influencers out there, let this be a warning - we are no longer buying what you're selling. We see through your facade and we're not afraid to call you out on your bullshit. It's time for you to take a long, hard look at yourselves and start being accountable for your actions. Because we're not going to let you exploit and manipulate us anymore. We're done with influencers.

The toxicity embedded in the influencer culture is nothing short of a societal menace. These self-proclaimed gurus infiltrate our minds, especially those of vulnerable young women, under the guise of sharing their lives. 'Night beauty routines,' 'what I eat in a day,' 'house tour' – these seemingly innocent snippets serve as the Trojan horse for these influencers to peddle an illusionary existence. They meticulously craft an image that appears authentic, enticing, and worth imitating, making them potent vehicles for product marketing. However, this power comes with an enormous responsibility not to disseminate misleading or harmful information. It's time to reject their manufactured personas, cease supporting their brands, and redirect our focus to real issues and real people. The era of blindly idolizing influencers is over – it's time for accountability and a reckoning.