The latest social media buzzword, ‘de-influencing,’ is self-explanatory: it is the opposite of a social media star recommending a product. Instead, influencers are now using social media to discourage their audience from purchasing certain products.
However, there may be an upside to this trend.
Is De-Influencing trending for the better?
Over the past few months, the hashtag #deinfluencing has been used over 300 million times in TikTok and Instagram video captions. Following a scandal involving a famous beauty influencer’s mascara on TikTok, Gen Z has taken to social media to reject influencer marketing and instead offer authentic opinions on products. This is an effort to combat the influx of sponsored influencer contents and paid influencer marketing by brands.
The trend has resulted in social media users be more transparent about the viral products that have been making rounds on our TikTok and Instagram feeds. This has led to a more honest and authentic approach to social media marketing, where influencers are not just focused on making a quick buck, but also on building trust with their followers. As a result, social media users are becoming more aware of the products they consume and are making better-informed decisions to move towards spending sustainably.word count
What are your thoughts on this trend, and have you been influenced by the de-influencing movement yet?
