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As much as we malign "influencers", we forget that a good chunk of them earn a living service niche interests and are not all insufferable narcissists. Some of

As much as we malign "influencers", we forget that a good chunk of them earn a living service niche interests and are not all insufferable narcissists. Some of my favourites: -Joshua Bardwell (FPV drones): https://www.youtube.com/@JoshuaBardwell https://www.youtube.com/@JoshuaBardwell -RM Transit (public transit design): https://www.youtube.com/@RMTransit https://www.youtube.com/@RMTransit -Technology Connections (random nerding out): https://www.youtube.com/@TechnologyConnections https://www.youtube.com/@TechnologyConnections -ElectroBOOM (comedic electrical engineering): https://www.youtube.com/@ElectroBOOM https://www.youtube.com/@ElectroBOOM -Practical Engineering (civil engineering): https://www.youtube.com/@PracticalEngineeringChannel https://www.youtube.com/@PracticalEngineeringChannel -Mark Felton (war history, mostly ww2): https://www.youtube.com/@MarkFeltonProductions https://www.youtube.com/@MarkFeltonProductions

PhasmaFelis 2y ago
Are those "influencers" or just "content creators"?
- LordKeren 2y ago
  “Influencers” is usually a euphemism for “content creator that produces content that I don’t like”
  - PhasmaFelis 2y ago
    I think "influencer" specifically implies someone who gets paid to shill for brands (or aspires to, once they build a following). You're not just "creating content", you're "influencing" public opinion. Early in the internet era, advertisers realized that personal testimony (e.g. from online forums) is trusted more than advertisements. So of course the obvious step was to make advertisements that look like personal testimony.
- hylaride 2y ago
  Both, really. Some of it (in particular the history stuff) is pure content creation, for sure. Others give product recommendations, reviews, etc.
chelmzy 2y ago
I think the key difference is they have influence because of the content they make in that space. Whereas a lot of these influencers are just talking about themselves the entire time.

PhasmaFelis 2y ago

Are those "influencers" or just "content creators"?

LordKeren 2y ago
“Influencers” is usually a euphemism for “content creator that produces content that I don’t like”
- PhasmaFelis 2y ago
  I think "influencer" specifically implies someone who gets paid to shill for brands (or aspires to, once they build a following). You're not just "creating content", you're "influencing" public opinion. Early in the internet era, advertisers realized that personal testimony (e.g. from online forums) is trusted more than advertisements. So of course the obvious step was to make advertisements that look like personal testimony.
hylaride 2y ago
Both, really. Some of it (in particular the history stuff) is pure content creation, for sure. Others give product recommendations, reviews, etc.

chelmzy 2y ago

I think the key difference is they have influence because of the content they make in that space. Whereas a lot of these influencers are just talking about themselves the entire time.