Why are social media influencers called so? Why and how do they influence people? As far as I can see, they appear more like manipulators rather than influencers.

Influence is internal. To be influenced, you need some kind of inspiration or motivation. People are influenced by great personalities like Thomas Alva Edison, Nelson Mandela, Helen Keller, etc. These personalities have inspired people to do positive things. And they did not do any thing for money or fame.

Manipulation is external. To be manipulated, you need to be nudged by someone who sells you an idea so that he or she may be benefitted by it. Manipulation has a negative connotation, and it is never done without an underlying motive. The motive may be money, fame, personal gains or just sadistic pleasure.

Social media has been infested with manipulators. They tell you what you should buy, how you should look, and even how your lifestyle should be, irrespective of what circumstances you are currently living in. And you are supposed to oblige to the new trends so that you can “fit” in the society.

They all do it for money and fame. I have seen a manipulator endorsing three different Face Wash brands for dry and oily skin, in a single month. And in every reel, he has mentioned that he personally uses the product(s). I doubt if anyone uses three different cosmetic products for the same purpose, or if they even use any of the products they endorse. There are many manipulators like him – for cosmetics, apparels, and almost every other thing. The brands pay for the endorsements and that funds their lifestyle – multiple foreign trips in a year, lunches and dinners in premium cafes and restaurants, almost every day, and a new attire for every post or video because repeating attires is a serious offence in their world.

Comparison is the antidote to happiness. Yet you compare your life to that of manipulators. Seeing your friends and colleagues following fads and trends, you delve in to meet the neo social standards. Comparisons are made in whispers, show-off become subtly essential. You see picture-perfect lives and wonder why your own life is so different, and then you feel bad about yourself. The bar is always set higher by someone, every week, or every month. The cycle never ends. The manipulation never stops. You forget to appreciate what you have. You lose sight of what truly matters – all because you are slyly manipulated through a six-inch screen.