In a world so overwhelmed by social media and obsessed with fame, online presence and virality, the Internet is a big market. People become many things there through various social media platforms, and today we have influencers who have built themselves a certain kind of reputation and character in the online space. Some become “experts” in some niches that people go to them to market their products and services because of their online presence.
Say we take it a bit further, what would it be like having these influencers give professional and expert advice on things or fields they're just known for but not practising or professional in? Would I be willing to trust them to give me advice or would I prefer a professional in my own neighbourhood? It gets even more complicated when it's a health matter, as the prompt used to make an example. The influencer or the professional, perhaps, a local one?
I find it even quite ridiculous to say I'd choose an influencer over the professional in my own neighbourhood, especially with medical matters. I've had my reservations about influencers, not all, especially because of the experiences of some people with them, and how their whole brand could be built on lies and deceit. With such tendencies, it's hard to go for the advice of an influencer who could be doing all that just for clicks, rather than one devoted to the field.
Not just devoted to the field, but experienced. This isn't a case of two-sided generalisation, where I think the doctor in my neighbourhood is automatically qualified to give me advice while disputing the credibility of the influencer who is famous for such and might be better informed than that professional, without giving them a chance. Well, we can say that. But the probability of this happening is slim, not even when influencers are mostly about the clicks.
Personally, I won't be considering the advice from an influencer over that professional in my own neighbourhood. They might be local, but there's something that being in a field, devoted to it and also experienced adds to the kind of advice that'll come forth. Being known widely online for a thing doesn't automatically qualify one to give expert and professional advice. It doesn't say credibility and certainly not professionalism.
Not even for something that requires a level of education and practice to be able to give advice and provide consultancy services. It's a world where people are crazier about social media and online fame and presence than ever before. Seeing some of these could be understandable but considering it okay and a way to go becomes a problem. It doesn't just affect who receives the advice, but it undermines the importance of a professional field.
If an influencer can advise on professional matters, who can't? I mean, AI is there to run to, get information and become capable of doing the same. This doesn't just undermine the importance of professional fields, but insults the credibility of people who have worked and laboured hard to carve out a career in that field. It means we're creating a world where credibility isn't upheld and professional practice is disregarded. So anyone can give such advice.
Image is AI generated.
