What do you think about "influencers"? (page 1 of 3)

Hi everyone, I stumbled upon this article about Bali, which has finally decided to take action against "influencers" and expel them from the island. A special brigade has even been created to stop them. Details in the article below.

https://www.franceinfo.fr/replay-radio/l-il-de-constance/bali-n-en-peut-plus-des-influenceurs-l-ile-declare-la-guerre-aux-createurs-de-contenu_8144909.html

So, I’ll answer my own question—I won’t beat around the bush: I can’t stand influencers anymore. It’s just another layer on top of the eco-conscious/hipster crowd. Now we’ve got influencers added to the mix. Because beyond skyrocketing prices and paradise spots ruined in just a few years, the real result is the homogenization of all tourist spots. They demand their little cafés serving vegan, Instagram-worthy food, their coworking spaces, their vegan Instagram shops, etc.

In short, to me, these people are a cancer in tourism. They act like they’re above the rules, especially when it comes to taking photos, think they’re all-powerful, and on top of that, I don’t think they contribute anything to the local economy… Besides matcha tea, paddleboarding, and vegan food, all they do is make videos.

Sure, I’m not saying some influencers don’t stand out, but 99% of them are just doing completely useless stuff…

Hi,

Personally, I don’t really see who they’re influencing.

I’m not throwing the baby out with the bathwater, but generally, their content doesn’t exactly stretch the brain—whether it’s about travel, investments, diet, or any other topic that allows for lucrative product placement.

I see them more as scammers than hipsters. Fake photos, for example, to glamorize a mundane spot or one already ruined by overtourism.

Still, we’re all influencers in our own way here.

Published travel journals are goldmines of information, but they also bring misfortune to some places.

Should we delete the internet for the planet’s well-being?

I don’t get this totally negative reaction. Leave those people alone! If they produce content that appeals to a certain audience, well, that’s their business. Everyone does what they like as long as it doesn’t interfere with other people’s lives. It sounds very French to criticize others like that... YouTubers aren’t bothering anyone—they make their videos in their own space. If younger people like it, why not? Whether there are "bobos" or rich people spending millions on travel, I couldn’t care less. It’s not my problem—it’s other people’s problem.

Uhhh, some influencers, YouTubers, or whatever else can still be pretty darn annoying for three reasons:

- The constant drone buzzing (though they’re not the only ones) - The time they spend blocking a view to take what they think is the perfect photo or video (though it can be kinda fun to watch...) - The hype they create for a place, which can turn it into a nightmare

It's obvious that excesses and unfortunate slip-ups exist. When it comes to Bali, what the authorities actually want to do is ban "backpackers" and low-budget travelers to favor very wealthy tourists. In short, it's nothing more or less than the Maldives' policy. As a result, it's highly likely that Bali will become an expensive destination. So, the moral of the story: enjoy the island before prices go up.

I’m not at all sure that the influencers in question who used to live in Dubai should be classified as budget travelers.

As for ultra-budget travelers, they don’t really interest most countries’ tourism offices or government agencies.

It’s capitalism even in North Korea—it’s gotta pay off!

As for ultra-budget travelers, they don’t really interest most countries’ tourist offices or government agencies.

ehh, that’s what I wrote. Am I really that hard to understand?

This topic is about influencers. Your reply could make it seem like they’re part of the low-budget crowd.

Also, I don’t see why you’d limit the little interest shown in travelers on a tight budget to just Bali.

It’s universal.

Being an influencer is only a temporary gig, and I doubt it lets you make a living. You don’t get rich by posting videos on social media.

The amounts provided by AI are still quite substantial:

Average rates per post • Nano-influencers (500 to 10,000 followers): 10 € to 100 € per post. • Micro-influencers (10,000 to 50,000 followers): 100 € to 500 € per post. • Mid-tier influencers (50,000 to 100,000 followers): 500 € to 5,000 € per post. • Macro and mega-influencers (over 100,000 followers): from 1,000 € to over 10,000 € (and sometimes much more for global stars),

Being an influencer is only a temporary gig, and I doubt it lets you make a living. You don’t get rich by posting videos on social media.

Uhhh, what world is Mathews living in?

Estimated fortunes in France (source: Gemini): Squezzie: 20 million € Mac Fly and Carlitos: 12 million € Thibo Inshape: 10 million €

And I’m not even talking about their counterparts across the Atlantic 😅.

Uhhh, what world does Mathews live in?

Did you actually read what I wrote? I said that being a YouTube celebrity only lasts for a while. Do you see Squeezie making videos at 60 years old? And then you’re forgetting one thing—these YouTubers have production costs. Very often, they have their own production company. And producing videos comes with a certain cost. Have you ever worked in a company 😮? There’s no proof that making YouTube videos is profitable.

Given what they’ve already earned, they don’t care about lasting until they’re 60... 😏

They can already retire (or live as rentiers, really).

Still, maybe they love fame even more than money?

There's no proof that making YouTube videos is profitable.

If it weren't profitable, they wouldn't do it! And sticking around until they're 60 isn't their thing. What matters to them is making money—fast and as much as possible. After that, like Attila said, they'll live off their earnings. As for the harmful consequences of their messages, they couldn't care less. At least, that's the impression I get from being an influencer (if you can even call it a job).

If it weren't profitable, they wouldn't do it!

Do you know any companies or businesses that are *really* profitable? From what I know, a giant manufacturer like Boeing is reporting 20 € billion in financial losses. If you want, I can dig up the article that was published recently. From what I understand, a giant like Amazon has to constantly borrow and raise funds to finance its growth. I’m not saying Squeezie obviously isn’t making money. But what you’re overlooking is the challenge of creating content on YouTube: *there’s competition, just like in most industries *and, more importantly, when you create content on YouTube, you’re at the mercy of the platform, which frequently changes its algorithms. So you’re really dependent on YouTube’s goodwill.

They can already retire (or at least live as rentiers).

Okay, but you’re forgetting one thing—inflation and rising prices over time. 1000 € in 2010 isn’t worth the same as 1000 € in October 2026. With 3% inflation over 16 years, that’s close to a 50% price increase. So your 1000 € from 2010 is only worth about 500 € in purchasing power by 2026.

If you want to invest your money, the Livret A savings account from Caisse d’Épargne barely earns anything. As for investing in the stock market, the slightest financial crash wipes out your entire capital. And here’s the bad news: traveling is going to keep getting more expensive. The problem with European countries like Belgium and France is that wages are stagnant—except maybe in Switzerland.

I’m not going to feel sorry for someone who has several million euros stashed away.

A few million francs was enough 30 years ago.

The cost of living hasn’t multiplied by 6.5 since then...

Some trips are even cheaper today thanks to low-cost options.

Personally, my travel budget only varies a lot from one year to the next when I visit expensive countries (Nordic countries, the USA, Switzerland...).

Otherwise, it’s pretty much the same every year.

The increase might be very noticeable for travelers on a tight budget, but for those with a mid-range budget, it’s not really a deal-breaker.

The only thing that’s really gone up significantly is luxury hotels.

Back when these hotels were in countries with low purchasing power, they were accessible to mid-range budgets.

Nowadays, the prices sting...

You have to compare things that are comparable: posting videos on YouTube doesn’t require a huge infrastructure or a big investment. It’s nothing like companies such as Boeing or Amazon.

Sure, there’s the algorithm issue—that’s true. A bit of advertising can help solve that problem. This little American guy figured it out, and his site is doing well now... but the bill was pretty steep, and dad wasn’t happy at all! 🙂 : 9-year-old boy spends over 100,000 € on ads for his YouTube channel using his dad’s company card—the man risks being fired - ladepeche.fr

Good evening, yes, I totally agree—you’ve got to compare things that are actually comparable. Anyway, thanks for the link to the article!

I had no idea this topic would get our buddy Mathews so worked up... I barely recognize him anymore.

Fellow forum friends, don’t give your password to your nephew 😜