The Random Daily Post word is Influencer.

I don’t believe I ever heard this word until a couple of years or so ago. It appears to mean people who influence what is trending on the internet and I guess in the real world.

I get a bit annoyed with some of these people. Who are they to decide what we ought to be reading, eating, wearing or whatever? I have never been one to follow fashions or trends though.

At one time the people who influenced trends were at least experts in their fields but now it seems that an influencer can be anyone who can start a blog or a YouTube channel. Like reality TV stars they become famous for being famous.

I admit that some are informative about their subject. I read and watch a lot of content from other doll collectors and people who travel. If I want to know how to do something I know there will probably be someone out there who has done it and has advice. That’s all well and good but I guess those people are not necessarily influences because they are providing information rather than just telling us what the trendy people like or dislike.

My mum used to be fond of saying. “Don’t be one of sheep.” She meant don’t do something just because everyone else is doing it. But it seems that now that’s what happens. Influencers decide that the messy bun is a great look so you go out and every second woman you see has one. Someone decides that it is very trendy to make all your furnishings grey, floor, walls and furniture so that’s what everyone wants. I went into a carpet shop one day and every roll of carpet was grey or beige. This is a trend that I wish some influencer would say has had its day.

Why do we do this? Why do we think that some random person whom we’ve never heard of before knows best? Why don’t we make our own choices?