The Facade of the “Perfect” Life
By: Joy Rebecca Tanoni
While some may view the internet as a miracle, it can also be vicious and threatening to our lives. How? It’s distorting everyone’s perspectives. Like Hollywood created stars, the internet has produced its own celebrities: influencers. Initially, influencers were few, but now being famous and aspiring to be an influencer has become a trend.
Currently, lifestyle influencers like Nara Smith promote their way of living in the public eye. Is this real? Is it realistic? Yes and no. Influencers have the talent to make their lives appear perfect; they are famous for showcasing their lives as picture-perfect. Humans, as we’ve discovered, love to scrutinize others, and social media has opened the doors to this curiosity wide open. Influencers exploit this human tendency to their benefit; we become viewers and followers, often unaware that each post may be meticulously staged and edited.
In Los Angeles, often referred to as the city of stars, photographers and influencers create the illusion of a luxurious lifestyle by staging photos against glamorous backgrounds. Sometimes, photographers rent mansions and take pictures for influencers to post as if they were their homes. Journalist Nick Bilton notes, “They fake all-expenses-paid camping trips to get free, all-expenses-paid camping trips,” and adds, “They fake hiking in the Redwoods to try and get free hiking gear and sponsorships. They fake upgrades to first class or trips on private planes.” Bilton’s film *Fake Famous* reveals that influencers manipulate their way into promotions and their ‘perfect lifestyle.’
IS IT REALISTIC?!
The definition of perfect is subjective, and so is reality. Going to high-end restaurants each night, wearing designer clothes, and traveling every week are goals that many aspire to achieve, and they can be achievable. However, remember that influencers and celebrities are primarily focused on highlighting the best moments of their lives, not necessarily showing their everyday reality. It’s wise to view social media photos with skepticism. The life they present is realistic in its own way, but everyone’s life is different.
To conclude, where there is good, there is also bad. This is the norm in our society. Hard work remains essential for achieving dreams. Social media may seem like a shortcut to success, but many have shared stories about the hard work involved in being an influencer. This highlights the need for a strong work ethic in any field. Although social media can be toxic and misleading, it is also responsible for many positive aspects of our lives today. While it has been shown to negatively affect our brains, it’s up to us to use it in ways that benefit us. There are numerous influencers who provide genuine information, share their true lives, and offer valuable insights to today’s youth. Unfortunately, these genuine voices are often overshadowed. Success stories of children, teens, and adults through social media prove that, while social media may be unhealthy, it can also be a tool for personal benefit, just as it is for these influencers.
Even on YouTube, countless videos reveal how easy it is to fake a vacation to a beautiful, luxurious location while just being at home. For example, influencer Natalia Taylor posted a photo of herself in Bali, which she later revealed in a YouTube video was staged at her local Ikea. Without her video, many would have assumed she was actually in Bali. It’s evident that influencers use their platforms to fabricate vacations to boost their feeds' performance and secure sponsorships from around the world.
FAKE LIFE? FAKE MONEY?
While some influencers may indeed have wealth, thousands—if not hundreds of thousands—promote luxurious, 'perfect,' and exclusive lives that they may not actually live. Our generation and the one that follows often fail to realize that many influencers make a living by showcasing a life they do not truly lead.
FAKE FAMOUS TOO?
Yes. Influencers buy followers, as you might expect. Beyond faking mansions, lifestyles, and designer goods, the large number of followers an influencer has often doesn’t grow organically; many purchase followers online. Buying followers enhances promotional content and more. All these tactics are used by influencers to support their careers. Becoming an influencer is still a job, and influencers will do whatever it takes to achieve a “promotion,” similar to striving for recognition in a traditional corporate job. In the world of social media, influencers are like employees, and views and companies are the higher-ups they seek to impress. Just as employees work hard to be noticed, influencers simulate their ‘lives’ on social media through displays of luxurious trips, clothing, and more. It’s simply business.