We understand that everyone should be allowed to do or post what they want on their personal channels because this is what the internet was made for. It has democratized public broadcasting so everyday people have the platform to perform to an audience. And we celebrate this freedom and the creativity fostered by the internet.
But the growth in audiences and popularity also brought forth the potential for profit. So the creative space of the internet also became a marketplace of clout-chasing personalities.
So, what do we want to happen here?
We are not calling for the end of every influencer nor do we lament their existence. We are not chastising their audience for enjoying the kind of content they put out either. Fun and lighthearted content are still much welcome.
We are not even calling on influencers to weigh in on every single political issue. Especially if they only have half-baked opinions and are only doing so for the sake of.
If influencers do influence their audiences, we hope that they use this to help incite positive social movements. They can use their popularity to lead their followers to organizations where good intentions can be amplified. And may they be more conscious of the things they post online.
Influencers have to understand that having a platform and while their traction is growing, they also have an added growing social responsibility to promote awareness about causes and events that are happening about the world. As much as they don't want to, their influence is beneficial to making the world a better place not just for themselves, but for everyone in it.
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