It's no secret that popular social media stars are shilling bullshit products to make more than a few bucks. It's been happening for a while. But now, the world of social media advertising is so saturated by companies trying to connect with young audiences that these influencers and social celebs are turning down endorsements deals in order to make sure they don't ruin their brand, according to The New York Times. Operation Cash The Fuck Out Out 2K15 seems to be more difficult than we previously thought.
Big companies have really run this strategy into the ground, reaching out to those with tons of followers so often that they've ended up with regular placement on their payrolls—more than 50% of companies polled in 2014 say they used influencers as advertising. There are even agencies and services that connect companies to the proper influencer for promotion. Early on, bloggers and influencers were happy to make a buck off these ads. Now though, they've become more cautious about partnerships so they don't dilute their brand and make it painfully obvious that they're making a living off things like YouTube videos and Instagram photos.
But here's my question: What's worse? The fact that the bloggers are turning down dollars or the fact that the market has become so saturated with suitors that they're even able to do that? That shit is as insane to me as it was on day one. This is very clearly the path toward the promoted singularity and a completely terrible dystopian existence of flow known as THE #SPONSOREDPOCALYPSE. Brands basically need to get off the dick of influencers, suck it up and figure out creative ways to reach the audiences they want to. Shit's so unoriginal and tacky. And, listen, I don't blame the influencers. They're making the money we all wish we were. It's the brands who should be ashamed of themselves for this bullshit and for the fact that not a single one of them has approached Four Pins to promote some flagrant streetwear. We're trying to eat too. What the fuck?
