One impact of Covid-19 is that “virtual” and “online” seem to be the new mantras. Virtual meetings and online classrooms have become the new normal, and internet-related businesses are flourishing. As we spend more time online, social media’s role in our lives has been further secured.
I would never have imagined that I could average around three hours a day on Facebook and Instagram until I checked my phone settings. I then realised why I had been too “busy” to attend a planned swimming session.
Recently, “influencers” or “key opinion leaders” have become new career paths. While I find it astonishing that people can make money on the back of their fame and the number of views their posts generate, I was shocked to read the article “They’re kings and queens of social media – but they don’t exist” (July 8).
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I learnt that two popular Instagram influencers, Liam Nikuro and imma gram, who update the world regularly about their daily lives, are computer-generated characters. With their unique interests and styles, they have become public figures whom teenagers look up to. They have also featured in commercials for high-end brands, and even shared their “feelings” and “experience” on a talk show. They react to and voice their opinions on social issues such as the Black Lives Matter movement.
While we are all familiar with the dangers of artificial intelligence, such as manufacturing jobs being replaced by new technology, it’s still surprising that computer-generated influencers can be successful.
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Police ‘influencer-style’ safety introduction goes viral online in China
Police ‘influencer-style’ safety introduction goes viral online in China
Influencers attract their audiences with their unique charisma through social media channels and they often specialise in areas such as fashion, make-up, food and wine, and travel. They appeal to us because of their opinions in their specialised fields, and their ideas and judgment are derived from their own experience. “Opinions”, “ideas”, “judgment”, “experience” and “exposure” are words I would associate with human beings, but now, it seems, they are no longer only applicable to us.
