THE ILLUSION OF INFLUENCE

We've created a world where being successful looks more profitable than it is to be successful.

It pained me to my bones to think about that first sentence, because it's just as true as it is painful.

The power to influence can be purchased these days.
Followers are available for sale.
Opinions may be exaggerated.
Comments can be automatically processed.
Even applause can be made!

On the surface it doesn't appear to be a major issue. After all who is hurt if someone wants to purchase fake followers with their money?

Well, it's more people than we think.
It's not the algorithm that suffers the most.
It's trust.
It's the internet, and trust is the thing that it's built on.
If you have a few hundred thousand followers, you have to assume that you have created something that is valuable enough to warrant your followers' attention. We take those numbers for granted to be actual people taking a deliberate step towards connection.
However, if those numbers are bogus, then the audience is being deceived.
Brands make marketing choices on the basis of blown up influence.
There is no benefit to businesses that promote products that never actually arrive at customers.
Years of building real communities and audiences is lost to those who just bought the appearance of success.
It's no longer innocous.
It's deception.

The down side of it is that I get it why people do it.
In our society, we don't really celebrate consistency; we celebrate success.In our society, we don't celebrate consistency – we celebrate success.
It is not like the one who got 50,000 followers one day to the person who spent 3 years building a loyal following of 5,000 genuine followers.
Economic indicators are more important than the facts.
They seem to at least.
We have been taught to use social media and associate popularity with credibility.
We assume that it is better to be bigger.

The more followers, the more the knowledge ought to increase.
If you have more likes, then it must be of higher quality.
Afterall they say the more the merrier, the more valuable right?.
However, this isn't always the case.

There are some of the smarter people I've ever seen on the internet and they have rather small followings.
Similarly, some of the loudest voices have huge follows which are making no meaningful contribution.
Numbers can form a power.Numbers can do influence.
They are incapable to develop character.
Is fake following and fake engagement a crime?

I don't want to say that all cases are necessarily criminal charges, but it's starting to feel like one.
But if someone knowingly makes a fake engagement to gain a sponsorship, investment, or influence in the media, to influence public opinion, or to trick consumers into a financial decision, there should definitely be repercussions.

It is the same as to lie on any other business indicator.
Honesty matters.
In particular, when it comes to cash.

As much as this culture has on common folk is the thing that concerns me most.
Young creators start to compare themselves to non-genuine accounts and configure them as their goals.
They ask themselves what they're doing wrong that they are not achieving success overnight after consistent effort for months.

Many eventually give up... not because they're not talented but because they're playing against a false representation and that's heartbreaking.

The catch is that bogus numbers can be convincing in the short term, but can not help but cause failure in the long run.

Algorithms change.
Bots disappear.
With purchased followers, there is no loyalty.
But genuine relationships?
Those survive trends.

I like to make content, so I think influence should be won, not wrought.
Real communities take time.
Trust takes time.
Credibility takes time.
Those are things that there is no quick way to get instead.

I would rather have 100 people that feel my work, than have 100,000 accounts that only make me look important.

Not everyone is going to follow you for you to influence them.
It is assessed based on the number of people who have trust in you.
Trust is always a priceless asset.

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