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> The people who are doing most to drive social polarization are the least likely to be motivated by social proof. Young females dedicating their lives to be I

> The people who are doing most to drive social polarization are the least likely to be motivated by social proof. Young females dedicating their lives to be Instagram fitness/fashion/bathing suit influencers would like to have a talk with you.

mulmen 7y ago
Is the Instagram influencer motivated by polarization or by social proof? I think the GP is arguing that when your goal is polarization you don't care about social proof.
- MuffinFlavored 7y ago
  Most Instagram influencers want you to know how awesome their body is. They want you to sign up for their fitness program or purchase (and envy) the latest fashion they are wearing. If you don't follow their fitness program or purchase their fashion, you're polarized against them, right? Because their lifestyle is the one with millions of followers and likes, not yours. Does that make sense?
  - mulmen 7y ago
    No, that doesn’t make sense. Polarization is a fundamental disagreement on some issue or set of issues. People pick sides for whatever reason and they are unlikely to ever change their beliefs. An influencer is just a marketer selling a personal brand for profit. It’s entirely different.
    - MuffinFlavored 7y ago
      > Polarization is a fundamental disagreement on some issue or set of issues I feel like "I have 1m followers and you don't" polarizes people into two separate groups?
      - mulmen 7y ago
        No, it doesn't. That's just jealousy. The 1m followers do not themselves have 1m followers and yet they still follow the influencer. You could make some argument that this is analogous to a religion and if the influencer pushes an agenda that could lead to polarization but is also probably bad business. I don't see social media influencers pushing anything controversial, they're marketers, they want to appeal to everyone. Polarization is when one politician says we should tax rich people but another says we shouldn't. It's a fundamental disagreement on a personal belief. Not a statement of fact. The belief may be informed by facts but polarization comes from a disagreement on a course of action.
pjc50 7y ago
That's not what we mean by "polarisation": those women (not "females") are usually completely apolitical because it would hurt their product marketing. Doesn't seem to work the same way for male "influencers", who are more likely to have a connection to the right in some way.

mulmen 7y ago

Is the Instagram influencer motivated by polarization or by social proof? I think the GP is arguing that when your goal is polarization you don't care about social proof.

MuffinFlavored 7y ago
Most Instagram influencers want you to know how awesome their body is. They want you to sign up for their fitness program or purchase (and envy) the latest fashion they are wearing. If you don't follow their fitness program or purchase their fashion, you're polarized against them, right? Because their lifestyle is the one with millions of followers and likes, not yours. Does that make sense?
- mulmen 7y ago
  No, that doesn’t make sense. Polarization is a fundamental disagreement on some issue or set of issues. People pick sides for whatever reason and they are unlikely to ever change their beliefs. An influencer is just a marketer selling a personal brand for profit. It’s entirely different.
  - MuffinFlavored 7y ago
    > Polarization is a fundamental disagreement on some issue or set of issues I feel like "I have 1m followers and you don't" polarizes people into two separate groups?
    - mulmen 7y ago
      No, it doesn't. That's just jealousy. The 1m followers do not themselves have 1m followers and yet they still follow the influencer. You could make some argument that this is analogous to a religion and if the influencer pushes an agenda that could lead to polarization but is also probably bad business. I don't see social media influencers pushing anything controversial, they're marketers, they want to appeal to everyone. Polarization is when one politician says we should tax rich people but another says we shouldn't. It's a fundamental disagreement on a personal belief. Not a statement of fact. The belief may be informed by facts but polarization comes from a disagreement on a course of action.

pjc50 7y ago

That's not what we mean by "polarisation": those women (not "females") are usually completely apolitical because it would hurt their product marketing. Doesn't seem to work the same way for male "influencers", who are more likely to have a connection to the right in some way.