The lie of ‘Deinfluencing’

For a short moment, we genuinely seemed to believe that our culture was entering the age of “deinfluencing”. The notion that influencers would promote not buying things, opposing traditional materialism.

Initially, what started as genuine reflections on influencer culture’s impact on spending habits & ethics, quickly turned into a sales pitch: influencers posted negative reviews but redirected followers to alternative products.

For example, “I’ve spent tons of money on buying skincare products, I hate x brand, instead buy Y brand.” You tend to see this ALOT on TikTok. What sounds genuinely authentic might just be a different way to get you to buy their affiliated products.

As much as I hate this, it is the inevitability of commercialisation. Advertising will continue to thrive, commercialisation will intensify making it more challenging to navigate, whether we like it or not.

It’s okay if you don’t succumb to peer pressure and trends easily. But if you’re like me, here’s how to practice true ‘deinfluencing’:

1️⃣ Practice delayed gratification: Implement a "waiting period" before making non-essential purchases. This gives you time to reflect on whether the item is genuinely needed or if the desire is influenced by external factors.

2️⃣ Mindful social media use: Limit your exposure to influencer content by unfollowing or muting influencers who primarily promote materialism or don’t align with your values. Consider taking breaks from platforms that heavily promote consumerism and assess the impact of these platforms on your mindset.

3️⃣ Set spending limits: Establish clear spending limits and budgets for yourself. This helps prevent impulsive purchases influenced by trends or marketing.

#NotForMe #tiktoktrend #deinfluencing