Influencer Economy
The Dupe Mindset Has Turned Everything On TikTok Into A Replica
Viral videos of people making fun of the term have underscored an ongoing trend — how literally any product has become a rip-off of something else.
Steffi Cao
Personal Finance Influencers Were Charged With Fraud In An Alleged Scheme Encouraging Their Followers To Buy Stocks They Planned On Dumping
A complaint filed by the SEC stated that the influencers “bragged and laughed about making profits at the expense of their followers” in private chats.
Steffi Cao
Liver King, The TikTok Creator Who Eats Raw Bull Testicles For Dinner, Is On Steroids
This has been a successful stimulated hunt.
Steffi Cao
Andrew Tate’s Hustlers University 2.0 Has Made At Least $11 Million In Just One Month
We enrolled in Andrew Tate’s Hustlers University 2.0, and found more anti-LGBTQ and anti-women rhetoric from the controversial influencer, who claims he’s helping people “escape the matrix.”
Ikran Dahir
Adult Performer Amouranth Is Seeking “Legal And Emotional Counsel” After Sharing That Her Husband Controlled Her Money And Threatened To Kill Her Dogs
In a new video, Amouranth says the police visited her house after her livestream on Sunday where she outlined her husband’s abuse.
Steffi Cao
Twitter And Instagram Restricted Kanye West Because Of Antisemitism So Now He’s Buying The Conservative App Parler
The news of the purchase comes one week after Twitter locked his account.
Ade Onibada
Everyone On TikTok Is Obsessed With Thrifting. This Is What Five Young Climate Activists Think Matter More.
TL;DR: Stop thrifting so much and join a local organization to really help with climate change.
Ikran Dahir
Gaming Streamer Dream Finally Revealed His Face, And "HES UGLY" Started Trending. He Said It Doesn’t Matter To Him.
The Minecraft YouTuber told BuzzFeed News how anonymous gaming shaped his personal life for years and how he felt when his 30 million subscribers finally saw him for the first time.
Steffi Cao
The Beloved Host Of CNN’s Student Show Left And Everyone Freaked Out
For over a decade, Carl Azuz has been the face of the news for millions of students.
Kelsey Weekman
“My Brother Is So Far Gone”: How Male Influencers Turned The Men In These People’s Lives Toxic
People told BuzzFeed News how their loved ones have embraced deeply hateful and misogynistic worldviews since listening to “alpha male” influencers.
Ade Onibada
The Try Guys’ Ned Fulmer Confirmed He’s Left The Comedy Group After Leaked Photos Showed Him Cheating On His Wife
The news came hours after photos on Reddit claimed to show Fulmer kissing a producer of the show.
Steffi Cao
Small Influencers Are Saying They’re Getting Fewer Brand Deals As Recession Panic Escalates
“It definitely feels like if you don't do this, if you don't do that new thing, you fall behind.”
Steffi Cao
How Counterfeit Hauls Killed The Taboo Of The Knock Off And Disrupted Luxury Influencing
Designer replicas can look and feel nearly as good as the originals, so people are wearing them with pride.
Ade Onibada
People Feel Bad For Addison Rae Now That Her Parents Are Being Openly Petty All Over The Internet
“Everything I’ve learned about Addison Rae’s parents has been against my own will.”
Kelsey Weekman
Christian Meme Pages Are Protesting The New Admins Of A Beloved Account
“Our antennas just go up when we notice something has been corporatized, and we sense people trying to make money off of us."
Kelsey Weekman
Here's A Roundup Of The Best Twitter Memes Mocking Andrew Tate For Being Banned Everywhere
"BREAKING: Andrew Tate has been banned from the beer simulator app."
Ikran Dahir
Tell Us If Toxic Male Influencers Like Andrew Tate Have Changed The Boys And Men In Your Life
Tell us about the changes you've witnessed from men in your life who've listened to hypermasculine online content for a possible BuzzFeed News story.
BuzzFeed News
Misogynistic Influencer Andrew Tate Has Been Banned From Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, And YouTube
“This is the kind of decisive action needed to tackle the online radicalization of young men towards a violently misogynistic worldview.”
Ade Onibada
Older Women Are The Only Aspirational Lifestyle Influencers I Want Now
“I haven't decided what my purpose is, but I also feel that I want to impart what I've learned.”
Steffi Cao
Boxing Was A Perfect Pivot For Jake Paul And Being Good At It Is Beside The Point
Jake Paul is editing his public image as a boxer like he might have done with a YouTube video: curating fights, creating drama, and angling unerringly for attention.
Kelsey Weekman
17 Celebrities Just Got Warning Letters About Shilling NFTs
A consumer watchdog group reminded them that they need to disclose their connection to an NFT collection when they promote it on social media.
Katie Notopoulos
Creators Told Us Their Favorite Internet Rabbit Holes
“I’m obsessed with a Facebook group where we look at ceramic pictures on tombstones.”
Kelsey Weekman
Unfortunately, I Am Too Pretty To Quit Instagram
Instagram will be handing over the feed to the popular kids until you step your pussy up.
Steffi Cao
People Are Saying The TikTok Pink Sauce Is "Disgusting,” But The Way People Are Treating Its Creator Is Also Leaving A Bad Taste In My Mouth
“I feel like Madonna or Beyoncé just tripped onstage and I woke up with their phone in my hand.”
Kelsey Weekman
Retirement House Is On A Mission To Change People’s Ideas Of Aging Through TikTok
They know you’re laughing at them because they’re older people doing youthful things. They’re just happy you’re laughing.
Kelsey Weekman
African Influencers Hope Khaby Lame’s Rise Will Mean That Global Success Is Attainable For More Of Them
“When people talk about influencers, I don't believe African creators are mentioned at all, except for Khaby and maybe Elsa.”
Ade Onibada
What This Week’s “Bachelor In Paradise” Debacle Should Teach Everyone About How The Influencer Economy Actually Works
It's hard to get followers, it's harder to maintain them.
Stephanie McNeal
The J.Crew Bankruptcy Has Exposed A Hard Truth About The Influencer Economy
This week's newsletter: Curvy Wife Guy's wife @sassyredlipstick said she'll no longer follow through with her J.Crew promo content, and the unique conflict fans feel over C-list celebrities breaking quarantine orders to get together.
Tanya Chen
