Instant Influencer Cringe

Look at “Instant Influencer” to see the cringe-fest of reality TV’s search for influencers.

A Reality Show Experiment’s Rise and Fall, “Instant Influencer”

The notion of influencers has swept the globe in the age of social media and the quest for online stardom. Influencers ranging from Instagram models to YouTube celebrities have taken center stage in contemporary media. However, like with any cultural trend, mistakes will inevitably be made. One such error is the embarrassing attempt to develop influencers using reality TV shows, as shown by the brief series “Instant Influencer.”

The Idea Behind “Instant Influencer”

A reality TV competition program called “Instant Influencer” made its YouTube debut in 2020—the show aimed to identify the following major beauty influencer through challenges and eliminations. James Charles, a well-known beauty influencer with millions of followers, produced it. The winner received $1,000 and the opportunity to work with James Charles. Contestants’ makeup talents, inventiveness, and audience engagement abilities were judged.

An Ingenious Concept Gone Wrong

The idea behind “Instant Influencer” appeared to have potential because it capitalized on the rising interest in influencer culture and the temptation of instant celebrity. The show ultimately failed to hold viewers’ attention since it immediately became clear that it was more cringe-worthy than captivating as it went on.

Inauthenticity and manufactured drama

The manufactured and scripted aspect of “Instant Influencer” was one of the key factors contributing to its cringe-worthy quality. While contrived drama and rehearsed moments are shared in reality TV shows, “Instant Influencer” pushed them to a new level. Many of the tasks and conversations between the competitors came across as forced and unnatural, as if the producers were excessively trying to build tension and excitement for the cameras.

Ignoring the Influencer Culture’s Reality

“Instant Influencer” ignored the work, commitment, and authenticity frequently needed to develop a genuine online following and instead promoted the notion that anyone can become an influencer overnight with a little bit of makeup and creativity. This film should have addressed criticism about influencers’ lack of authenticity.

Stereotypes of influencers are reinforced.

The use of influencer clichés and tropes in “Instant Influencer” was another egregious flaw. The contestants largely matched the stereotype of an influencer by being young and handsome. The challenges reinforced the notion that influencers mainly focus on their looks and surface-level aspects of life by focusing primarily on makeup and beauty-related content. James Charles and the other assessors frequently employed overused influencer vocabulary, which came out as forced and unnatural.

Increasing Toxicity Rather Than Support

Additionally, the way the participants and their relationships were portrayed on the show occasionally left room for discomfort. In a competitive setting, contestants were opposed to one another and required to demonstrate their abilities while attempting to outperform their fellow contestants. For the benefit of the cameras, this led to heightened tension, envy, and drama. “Instant Influencer” cultivated a toxic environment rather than a supportive one, more interested in drama-making for entertainment value than encouraging the candidates’ gifts.

Missed Chances and Inclusivity Issues

The “Instant Influencer” contestants and judges’ lack of diversity were evident. Most competitors were white, and the judges were well-known figures in the beauty world. This lack of representation demonstrated wasted chances to spotlight creators from all backgrounds and tap into the diversity of influencers.