Are You A Social Media Climber?

The Influencer Influenza - A Strain of the Virus

The big question these days is, “Did you get Covid?” But the real question is, “Did you catch the Influencer Influenza?” When millions of people were locked down during the pandemic, we were literally left to our own devices to stay connected with humans. Our computers, iPads, and smartphones quickly became bully pulpits, and we were off to the races…as in running our mouths. Those who were not on social media platforms besides Facebook—which was becoming extinct since the attack of the Grandmas—found their way to Twitter, Instagram, and the new kid on the block, TikTok. On the eve of the most contentious election in 2020, many of us found our voices and decided to throw our hats into the bloviator ring.

THE ETYMOLOGY OF “SOCIAL MEDIA CLIMBERS
Recently, I went through my archive of blog posts from 2010-2012 to find the origins of the title of this post. Just wanted to share a few outtakes because the handwriting was on the wall. I Mean…What?!? was to blogs, what Won’t Be Silent is to TikTok.

MARCH 2010: WE ARE ALL SOCIAL MEDIA CLIMBERS
Social Media Climbers…that’s what you are, as am I, and nary an insult cuts as close to the bone as that. If you have a Twitter account, then you are guilty as charged. If you have not started one, it is because you are afraid you don’t have what it takes. Sadly, everyone (and their mother) has taken to the blogosphere to position themselves as mavens, know-it-alls, and experts in all areas of pop culture, politics, and fashion.

The Kardashians have killed off the Joneses because now we don’t give a shit about keeping up with them anymore. After all, now it is all about Keeping Up With The Kardashians. Blech. On some level, Twitter has been the perfect platform for has-beens and never-wases to thrive. Random losers become winners, jerks showcase their jerkiness, and marketing geniuses get to strut their stuff to the point where you decide to stop buying their products due to the cringe-worthiness of their language.

JULY 2010: SPEAKING OF SOCIAL MEDIA CLIMBERS (KANYE WEST)
In his desperate valiant effort to stage a comeback from his loose-lipped Taylor Swift mishap last year at the MTV Video Music Awards, Kanye Weast went right to the heart of the Social Media Climbers’ Paradise…the offices of Facebook. Look, the guy is a “genius” in his own mind anyway. But he’s not going to work from the periphery. Instead, he used his celebrity status to infiltrate the nucleus of the social media machine. Let’s call it  Journey To The Center of the Earth meets Black to the Future.

But when you hear the cooing and chortling of the Face-bookies, they sound like 2nd graders when a Fireman and Policeman come to pay a visit. And his rap was cringe.
Kill the hypocrisy,
This is an aristocracy.
I’m Socrates,
But my skin is more chocolatey.

SEPT 2012: DO SOCIAL MEDIA CLIMBERS MAKE YOU ANTI-SOCIAL MEDIA?
The social media landscape has become overpopulated with social media climbers desperate to get an ROI (Return On Investment), perhaps the scariest new term on Earth. We are bombarded with an overabundance of blatant marketing speak, and some of these sites need to polish up their social media graces.

What started as purely innocent—fun rating chicks on college campuses—has mushroom-clouded into a serious business or, more accurately, a massive mishmash of mass-marketing mush. Sprinkle that with a plethora of celebrities spewing pearls of their newly acquired wisdom, leaving us with a mosh-pit of “visual white noise.” Our in-boxes are stuffed with promotional opportunities, must-haves, pictures of C-List celebrities wearing Designer X on a red carpet, and news flashes that feature nothing new. We are just now beginning to see the backlash to this forced-fed frenzy of nonsense.

As Facebook and Twitter morph into one long ad roll, few can be trusted to speak the truth since every blog is cautiously and optimistically romancing potential advertisers. Either that, or we have brands desperately trying to get you to “LIKE” them in the hopes you will “click here” to purchase a twin set. But, seriously, nothing is more annoying than the rash of sneaker spammers on Facebook or those random unknown nudniks who beg you to LIKE them, like some “virtual Sally Field”?

I ASKED CHATGPT FOR ITS OPINION
The rise of social media influencers has been an interesting phenomenon to witness. While many have achieved substantial success, a large subset of individuals is more aptly referred to as ‘social media climbers.’ These individuals are often characterized by their relentless pursuit of fame and recognition on social media, often at any cost. These social media climbers will often use any means necessary to get noticed. This can range from purchasing followers and likes to posting content designed to draw attention intentionally.

Unfortunately, they are often oblivious to the fact that the only thing they are achieving is a shallow and fleeting sense of ‘fame.’ The most concerning aspect of social media climbers is that a need for validation often drives them. This can lead to them engaging in activities that are deemed to be unethical or socially unacceptable. This can have a negative impact on the reputation of legitimate influencers, who are often judged by the same standards. The good news is that social media platforms are becoming increasingly aware of this issue. They’re actively weeding out ‘fake’ influencers by introducing measures such as verifying accounts and algorithms that detect inauthentic behavior.

ATTENTION: SOCIAL MEDIA CLIMBERS: CLIMB BACK DOWN TO EARTH!
In closing, with algorithms affecting how much we get seen and heard, I recommend not believing everything you read or see on social media. Instead, do your own research when you think something seems amiss. Take heart in matters that directly affect your world. Of course, that means helping others whose stories touch you. Sadly, the internet has become a cesspool of misinformation where lies become truth, shysters run rampant, and those we would typically trust are peddling something…anything.

Continue to spread goodness…
Peace…
Abe
https://linktr.ee/WontBeSilent