Influencers have been posting their days, meals and routines for a long time. Many times, the routine videos look perfect and calm. Maybe they work out every day and have a tidy house 24/7. Lives vary, and everyone has a different way of being healthy and maintaining mental health. Some people even try to gain inspiration from influencer routines. However, that is tricky because in many cases, influencers’ lives aren’t realistic for other people, and they also aren’t the whole story.
Influencers’ jobs are to make the videos that people watch and to make them look as appealing as possible. When reflecting on what people post, it is important to note that people with full-time office jobs may not have the same time or money as someone who does video creation as a full-time job.
What hard work looks like depends on the type of work one does. If someone is a chef, then they will strive to make food that tastes perfect. If someone is a PR specialist, then they will work their best to create good plans and projects. The same goes for influencers, who work to make great videos. Some influencers do have multiple jobs, but they still get to pick what is posted.
An influencer who posts her daily routines is Rhegan Coursey. Some of her videos about her days consist of shopping, working out and maybe cleaning. Being able to work at home means her life looks calm and clean from the other side of the camera. Comparison is the thief of joy, so viewers can’t compare their lives to people who get to post the parts they want people to see. Everyone needs a different routine.
Coursey also posts about her workouts and personal fitness journey. Fitness influencers are also taking over different forms of social media. This is another form of work, especially if they are making money from views. It's vital to remember that part of their job is to work out and eat well, so people watch how they do it. This means they probably have more time to spend in the gym and on home cooking.
Another form of unreal expectations is when a fake filter is placed over the lens. The beauty filters are a popular tool on TikTok, and they change the way people look and can create self-image concerns. According to Women's Health, there were even discussions around TikTok banning beauty filters such as “Bold Glamour” for people under the age of 18. This could prevent young girls from attaining unrealistic beauty mindsets and wishing they looked like the generated filters.
Social media isn’t always completely fake though, and influencers can also be real. Alix Earle is an influencer who has a substantial income and is extremely successful. She frequently compiles brand deals and travels quite a bit. However, she is pretty transparent. She makes sure to take off the beauty filter and show her skin struggles, as well as showing funny videos of herself from nights out with friends. It can be refreshing to see an influencer show the not-so-perfect pieces of their life.
Overall, when scrolling social media, it is important not to compare one’s life to those filming their day in two-minute clips. Influencers' jobs are to make videos people will watch, and this is done through making life look as magical or as appealing as possible.
Kyra Dapore is a junior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk more about it? Let Kyra know by emailing her at kd364521@ohio.edu.
