Instagram has become one of the most popular social media platforms for people to share their lives, thoughts, and opinions through images and videos. One type of user that has gained immense popularity is the erotic influencer - someone who uses their platform to post explicit or suggestive content related to sex or romance. These individuals have attracted a large following of users seeking out erotic fantasy, but what impact do they have on the viewers' desires, perceptions, and behaviors?
The concept of commodifying relational desire means turning something into an object that can be bought and sold. Influencers who specialize in creating sexy content are essentially selling a product, which can lead to changing audience expectations around sex and relationships.
Followers may start to see their own relationships as lacking if they don't meet the idealized standards set by these accounts.
The constant exposure to highly curated content can alter self-perception, making it difficult for some to differentiate between reality and fiction.
When it comes to behavior, Instagram influencers can create a cycle of consumption that leads to addiction. Followers may feel compelled to keep coming back to the account for more content, leading to a sense of entitlement and even manipulation from the creator. This can lead to unhealthy patterns like sexualization of minors or exploitation of those being photographed without consent. The use of filters and editing tools also contributes to this issue, allowing creators to present a false version of reality that can distort viewers' perceptions of beauty and attraction.
It's important to note that not all influencers engage in harmful practices, and many provide safe and consensual content.
It's crucial for viewers to remain mindful of how much time and attention they spend on such platforms and to understand that they aren't realistic representations of human relationships.
Social media eroticism should be treated with caution, just like any other form of entertainment, and consumed responsibly.
How does Instagram erotic influencer culture commodify relational desire, affecting audience behavior, self-perception, and expectations?
Instagram erotic influencer culture commodifies relational desire through a variety of ways that can affect audience behaviors, self-perception, and expectations. One way is by creating an illusion of perfectionism, which makes it difficult for users to achieve such an idealized image in their real lives and creates unrealistic expectations about relationships.