Times have changed so much, I mean there was a time when the only place to get advice on serious matters was from trained professionals close by or we go to them. Health issues? We saw a doctor, Legal trouble? We spoke to a lawyer. It was that simple until now, things are different. We turn to the internet first, and more often than not, we go to listen to influencers.
This brings up the question: are people who are famous online for talking about something actually qualified to guide others on it? It's quite a disturbing matter.
Have you found myself in this situation before where you see a video that sounds convincing, the person speaks with confidence, has thousands of comments agreeing with them, and suddenly it feels like they truly know what they are saying. We have a lot of confident influencers like that today. But we also have trained professional who studied the same for years.
So who do we trust? Let me say this because with everything, there is the good and bad side. It's how the world has always been, we just try to have more of the good than the bad as much as we can. So here it is.
If I am being honest, influencers make information easy to understand, breaking things down in simple ways that feel so relatable. A medical topic that would normally sound confusing like it has been becomes something you can follow in a short video, which reaches more people. Someone in a remote area might not have easy access to a doctor, but they have access to the internet today.
The big issue here is that popularity is not the same as qualification. Just because someone has a large following does not mean they are trained. A person can repeat information they read somewhere else, present it as truth and make mistakes in the information. But because they sound confident, people believe them too easily.
Now, let’s talk about professionals.
Professionals have training and experience, medical doctors did not just wake up and started giving advice. They studied for years, practiced, and are held to certain standards. Their decisions are based on tested knowledge, not trends like influencers. Another good point is accountability. If a professional gives wrong advice, heir license, reputation, and career are at risk. This makes them more careful with what they say.
Although, professionals are not perfect either. Sometimes, they are not as accessible, some also struggle to communicate in simple terms, which makes people feel confused or even ignored. Relying only on professionals might slow things down and you might miss out on helpful everyday tips shared online. But the risk of relying on influencers alone is greater than slowing down.
That said, this does not mean influencers have no value. They can be a starting point, not the final authority. Think of them as people who raise awareness, not replace experts. For me, it's simple, listen to an influencer, learn something new, and get curious. But when it comes to making real decisions, especially serious ones, I would rather confirm with a professional.
Image used is AI generated.
