Instagram is a popular social media platform that allows users to share photos, videos, stories, and live streams. With its growing popularity, it has become an ideal medium for people to showcase their talents, promote their businesses, and connect with friends and family.
It has also become a space where some individuals can monetize their bodies by selling themselves as erotic influencers. These are individuals who post explicit content online that often crosses into pornography. This raises several issues regarding empowerment, objectification, and audience scrutiny in a digitally mediated environment. In this essay, I will explore these topics and how Instagram erotic influencers navigate them.
Empowerment is the ability to have control over one's life, body, and choices. When it comes to being an erotic influencer on Instagram, there are many advantages. For starters, they earn money from their posts without having to rely on anyone else or depend on external factors like employers.
They have the freedom to express their sexuality and desires openly without fear of judgement or criticism. They can create a safe space for others who may be uncomfortable doing so in real life.
They can use their platform to advocate for causes related to sex positivity, consent, and body acceptance.
There are disadvantages to being an erotic influencer. Their posts can be seen by anyone at any time, which can lead to harassment, cyberbullying, and other forms of abuse. Moreover, their followers may expect more explicit content from them, leading to a pressure to post risqué photos and videos to maintain their following. This can result in exploitation and objectification, where they are no longer in control of their image but rather become objects of desire.
The second topic is objectification, which involves treating people as things rather than humans with agency. As erotic influencers post explicit content online, they risk becoming objectified. Their followers may view them as sex objects instead of individuals with thoughts, feelings, and dreams. This can lead to dehumanization and a loss of self-worth. It can also lead to negative consequences such as stalking, blackmail, and doxxing (the publication of private information). In some cases, it can even lead to physical danger if the person meets someone who expects them to act out certain fantasies in real life. The audience's scrutiny plays a significant role here because they determine how erotic influencers are viewed. If they receive too much backlash, they might feel pressured to change their content or leave Instagram altogether.
Navigating empowerment, objectification, and audience scrutiny as an erotic influencer on Instagram requires careful consideration. They must balance between making money, expressing themselves freely, and avoiding exploitation. To achieve this balance, they need to set boundaries, be assertive, and protect themselves from harm. While there are disadvantages to being an erotic influencer on Instagram, it can still provide opportunities for financial gain, personal expression, and social advocacy if done responsibly.
In what ways do Instagram erotic influencers navigate the paradox of empowerment, objectification, and audience scrutiny in a digitally mediated environment?
Instagram erotic influencers face a paradoxical situation where they must balance between feeling empowered by their online presence while also being objectified by their followers. The public nature of social media allows for an unprecedented level of scrutiny, both from potential partners and strangers alike. To negotiate this difficult terrain, these individuals often create content that appeals to specific audiences but still maintains control over how they are seen and perceived.