Jens Oliver Meiert

The Problems With Being an Influencer With Millions of Followers

Published on May 25, 2025, filed under , (feed). (Share this on Mastodon or Bluesky?)

…you are wondering. Here they are, taken from my book on problems with everything—a book that made intentional use of AI and conveys an important but easy-to-miss insight.

The cover of “The Problems With All the Good Things.”

Here are some considerations regarding the potential drawbacks of being an influencer with a large following:

  1. Increased scrutiny and pressure: With a large following comes increased scrutiny and pressure to maintain a certain image or persona. Influencers may feel the need to constantly please their audience, leading to the fear of disappointing or losing followers. The pressure to consistently produce content and maintain engagement can be mentally and emotionally taxing.

  2. Loss of privacy and boundaries: As an influencer, personal privacy becomes limited. Followers may feel entitled to know intimate details of an influencer’s life, and boundaries can become blurred. Maintaining a balance between sharing personal aspects and preserving privacy can be challenging, potentially impacting personal relationships and well-being.

  3. Fake or superficial connections: Having millions of followers can result in a vast network of connections, but not all of them may be genuine or meaningful. It can be challenging to distinguish between authentic followers and those who simply follow for trends or popularity. Building and maintaining genuine relationships can become more difficult as the influencer’s popularity grows.

  4. Mental health and self-esteem issues: The pressure to constantly present a curated and flawless online presence can contribute to mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. Comparing oneself to other influencers or dealing with negative comments and online criticism can take a toll on an influencer’s well-being.

  5. Tendency for exploitation and manipulation: Being in the public eye can make influencers susceptible to exploitation and manipulation by brands, followers, or even other influencers. There may be pressure to endorse products or engage in collaborations that may not align with the influencer’s values or authenticity.

  6. Dependence on algorithm changes and platform policies: Influencers heavily rely on social media platforms for their reach and success. Changes in algorithms or platform policies can significantly impact an influencer’s visibility and engagement. It creates a sense of uncertainty and vulnerability as the influencer’s entire career may be subject to the whims of platform algorithms and policies.

From that perspective, there’s no envying influencers with millions of followers. What problems are there with other seemingly good things—and what do they all mean? The Problems With All the Good Things.

About Me

Jens Oliver Meiert, on November 9, 2024.

I’m Jens (long: Jens Oliver Meiert), and I’m a web developer, manager, and author. I’ve been working as a technical lead and engineering manager for companies you’ve never heard of and companies you use every day, I’m an occasional contributor to web standards (like HTML, CSS, WCAG), and I write and review books for O’Reilly and Frontend Dogma.

I love trying things, not only in web development and engineering management, but also in other areas like philosophy. Here on meiert.com I share some of my experiences and views. (I value you being critical, interpreting charitably, and giving feedback.)