topic Re: Influencers and Social Media in Community Chat

Influencers and Social Media

KittySoftPaws — Sun, 09 Nov 2025 16:31:07 GMT

So I live in Florida and we have a pretty nice Beach here known for beautiful views and sunsets, which draw many visitors here in the Winter months. Yesterday I headed to the beach mid aft., to spend the day and see the sunset. Upon arriving, I encountered 2 young Women maybe teens early 20's, posing on the walking bridge that heads to the beach. They were taking pics and posing over and over, no doubt for their Instagram accounts. I walked by and rolled my eyes to myself. A bit later, two more young Women were on the beach behind us sitting up on there knees, phones in front of them, and casually fake laughing, and posing in front of their phones. Again, I rolled my eyes. I just don't get this. Instead of living their lives in the moment they are in, and enjoying the beauty around them, they are trying to create a fake scenario that to me is incredibly self absorbed and ridiculous at the same time. This is the problem with social media, it creats the illusion that their lives are so interesting and to be envied. I am so glad I grew up in a time where we didn't have cell phones or social media. To me, this is a sad scenario and it's just getting worse. I was there with my Hubby's cousin and her friend who are 10 years younger than I and have kids. I don't. They said their daughters do this at times and they feel that if they don't, they may somehow be out of the "loop" socially and that would not be a good thing. What?! Consider me baffled, because I don't get it and it makes me wants to gag every time I see it.

Re: Influencers and Social Media

LizzieInSRQ — Sun, 09 Nov 2025 16:35:41 GMT

@KittySoftPaws My goal this past year especially is to not be so concerned about others when it starts to affect me negatively.

Re: Influencers and Social Media

Tori3569 — Sun, 09 Nov 2025 16:33:44 GMT

Their version of living in the moment is different than yours. They are having fun, on a beach, with a friend or friends and saving / sharing the memories. I love seeing my nieces and nephews' social media posts. They're very happy young adults.

Re: Influencers and Social Media

kaydee50 — Sun, 09 Nov 2025 16:34:50 GMT

It is an addiction--fear of missing out--and I refer to those types as zombies. I too think it's sad but I'm 75 and don't relate to most of the technology that is considered so necessary. Can't imagine what AI is going to do to society. Hope I'm gone before it becomes widespread!!

Re: Influencers and Social Media

Lakelife62 — Sun, 09 Nov 2025 16:35:50 GMT

Every generation has their thing.

It's a digital world now and this is how young people connect and relate to others. it's the daily version of the "here's how we spent our year" christmas cards.

I never understood why everyone smoked and drank in the 50s and 60s and while it wasn't true that everyone did those things, it just seemed that way beause of my personal experience.

Not every kid is posing for pictures or trying to be an influencer. This, too, will be replaced by something else that those of us on the downward slide of life will not understand.

A story as old as time.

Re: Influencers and Social Media

RetRN — Sun, 09 Nov 2025 16:36:51 GMT

I agree that it is an addiction and not a productive use of time. Young people are missing out on living life due to social media.

Re: Influencers and Social Media

Tori3569 — Sun, 09 Nov 2025 16:38:40 GMT

@RetRN wrote:
I agree that it is an addiction and not a productive use of time. Young people are missing out on living life due to social media.

Just curious. What "should" they be doing instead?

Re: Influencers and Social Media

Puppy Lips — Sun, 09 Nov 2025 16:45:38 GMT

I agree with the OP. It is all about ME ME ME. I have nieces who post a lot of crazy photos of themselves. I am not Facebook friends with them anymore for other reasons, but I don’t get it. Why they think everyone else wants to see 50 pics of their vacation is beyond me.

Re: Influencers and Social Media

Lakelife62 — Sun, 09 Nov 2025 16:46:09 GMT

@Tori3569 wrote:
@RetRN wrote:
I agree that it is an addiction and not a productive use of time. Young people are missing out on living life due to social media.

Just curious. What "should" they be doing instead?

Right? Many people have little to no interaction with young people, so I chalk it up to being out of touch with the world kids are living in these days.

I get kept right smack in the middle of it all (and sometimes I roll my eyes also- beause the teenage DRAMA is still the same) keeping up with my grandkids on Instagram and TikTok. Also, sometimes, I would rather not know.

Re: Influencers and Social Media

tansy — Sun, 09 Nov 2025 16:46:17 GMT

Some of those people are making money being an influencer.

Re: Influencers and Social Media

San Antonio Gal — Sun, 09 Nov 2025 16:49:17 GMT

@Tori3569 wrote:
Their version of living in the moment is different than yours. They are having fun, on a beach, with a friend or friends and saving / sharing the memories. I love seeing my nieces and nephews' social media posts. They're very happy young adults.

Agree with @Tori3569 100%.

Re: Influencers and Social Media

KittySoftPaws — Sun, 09 Nov 2025 16:50:51 GMT

@Tori3569 That question was already addressed. To live in the moment for themselves, instead of having their faces buried in their phones trying to impress their friends and strangers on social media. How must other young Women feel when they see them on social media and know they may never be able to even venture beyond their own hometown? You have your opinion on this and others have theirs, so no need to defend them, or challenge those who don't agree with you. I will respectfully disagree.

Re: Influencers and Social Media

kaydee50 — Sun, 09 Nov 2025 16:51:23 GMT

@tansy wrote:
Some of those people are making money being an influencer.

I read somewhere that a group of young people were asked what they wanted to be when they grew up. A significant number said "influencer"??!! Isn't that just a more sophisticated term for salesperson?? What is the difference?

Re: Influencers and Social Media

Lakelife62 — Sun, 09 Nov 2025 16:52:03 GMT

@tansy wrote:
Some of those people are making money being an influencer.

I would say that half of grandson's friends want to be a You Tuber or TikTok content creator as a career. It's kind of like saying you are going to be a famous actor or model or baseball player. Nobody wants to tell you that level of success is the outlier.

But I just let it be. Let them have their hope and aspirations. Somebody will reach that level of achievment. It might be on of them!

Re: Influencers and Social Media

haddon9 — Sun, 09 Nov 2025 16:58:20 GMT

It's all about attention. No one wants to feel left out and the more positive comments made, the more they feel like they have value.

I mostly ignore this and I'm glad I didn't have to live with social media as a young person.

Re: Influencers and Social Media

bellaartiste — Sun, 09 Nov 2025 16:59:30 GMT

I use to talk on the phone for hours. I use to go to the beach almost everyday laugh, and do nothing but lay in the sand, and drink my soda with my friends.

I believe young people do what is fun for them. You think they are not having fun. I am sure this gives them a great deal of pleasure.

I work in my garden and smell the flowers and look at the birds, and read for hours.

My goodness I never ever did that when I was younger. Most young people have their own way to figure out what is important as they move through life. Don't worry, let them be.

Re: Influencers and Social Media

Tori3569 — Sun, 09 Nov 2025 17:04:14 GMT

@KittySoftPaws wrote:
@Tori3569 That question was already addressed. To live in the moment for themselves, instead of having their faces buried in their phones trying to impress their friends and strangers on social media. How must other young Women feel when they see them on social media and know they may never be able to even venture beyond their own hometown? You have your opinion on this and others have theirs, so no need to defend them, or challenge those who don't agree with you. I will respectfully disagree.

Answer: they feel the same way I felt when my friends went on vacations to places like Disney when my parents weren't able to take me. Maybe envious for a few minutes and then over it.

Let's not feign pity for young people who I promise you are much more savvy about social media and know what's real and what's just for likes.

I would also say the same thing for all of us who spend time on these forums reading and commenting. My Dad would have said to put my iPad away and go out and get some fresh air. 😂

Re: Influencers and Social Media

Nancy Drew — Sun, 09 Nov 2025 17:00:24 GMT

Some travel influencers find hidden gems. It's not just young people. Older people are all over social media trying to make money or just a hobby doing this. It's better than just playing video games all day or a shopping overconsumption hobby.

Re: Influencers and Social Media

KittySoftPaws — Sun, 09 Nov 2025 19:40:40 GMT

@haddon9 Then there are the ones that have actually died in the moment while on the edge of a cliff or some other way out scenario, and for what?

Re: Influencers and Social Media

Bookplate — Sun, 09 Nov 2025 17:19:20 GMT

It's hard not to think that these forces have created a generation of self-absorbed, consumer-obsessed narcissists who prioritize 1)attention and 2)free stuff.