Imagine waking up in a world where traditional news mediums no longer exist. The world of news is ruled by some young and ‘cool’ individuals, appearing over your smartphone screen saying, “Hey guys, what a lovely day to drop some truth bombs here, no caps.” or “Hey guys! Pumped up for my new news-care regime?”
Silly? Maybe not.
The breed of these smart-looking individuals signifies the rise of a new-age profession — Social Media Influencer. Mostly dominated by GenZ and millennials, these professionals know exactly what their audience demands. They operate in separate fields, highly reliant on establishing credibility and trust. Their ultimate goal, however, remains the same — to influence or entice their audience.
But how do they become influencers?
Knowing philosophy or advanced studies to be in a position of an influencer is a thing of the past. Today, with more than 80% of the influencers being under the age group of 18–34, the most they require is an internet connection, social media account, a little understanding of the topic of their choice, and an audience to influence.
Top it up with the ability to influence, coupled with the basic knowledge, plus a dash of self-confidence,
And voila, we have an influencer ready!
Through the rise of influencers, the world is witnessing the rise of a new form of marketing. What are the chances of influencers’ words being trustworthy as more and more brands enlist them for promotion?
Yeah, food for the thought, isn’t it?
Great, then who are News Influencers?
Darwin has taught us pretty well how evolution works. Just as the evolution began from the sea, News Influencers too emerged from the sea of, well, influencers. :/
News Influencers are smart individuals on social media (not necessarily journalists) who collect news and information from the internet and present them to their audience on social media in the way their audience would prefer.
Now, these opinionated young individuals have a way with their words and actions — but are they reliable when it comes to facts?
Well…
We’ll get to it in some time.
GenZ demands just enough information to stay ‘woke’ among their pals and engage in conversations. The news, as they say, must not feel like a chore. They demand entertainment and fresh perspectives, they stan originality and ideas, and they want their news to be direct and close to them.
So are these traditional media houses failing to meet the needs of the young generation when faced with such demands?
Or is the news consumption space broken for GenZ?
In any case, what relevance do these novel News influencers hold for young generations?
There’s plenty to think about, and we still have a lot to discuss.
Stay tuned for part two!
And while you’re waiting, don’t forget to give us a clap!
