The Rise Of Influencer Aesthetics And Self-Surveillance
Social media has become an integral part of modern life, with platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook becoming increasingly popular among users worldwide. With this rise in online activity comes the emergence of "influencers," individuals who have built their personal brands around creating engaging content that resonates with a particular audience. As these influencers have gained more followers and attention, they have also begun to develop unique aesthetic styles, which they carefully curate to maintain their brand image.
But what does it mean for someone to be an influencer? How do they create these aesthetics? And how do these aesthetics affect the way we view ourselves and others? To answer these questions, let's look at how influencer aesthetics teach individuals to eroticize self-surveillance.
Influencer Aesthetics
Influencers are individuals who have built their personal brands around creating engaging content that resonates with a specific audience. They often have large followings on social media platforms and use their influence to promote products or services. These influencers may post about anything from fashion, beauty, lifestyle, travel, food, fitness, technology, or even politics. Their content is typically highly visual, with images or videos showcasing their lives, style, and interests.
Influencer aesthetics refer to the visual style that an influencer uses to present themselves and their content. This can include clothing, makeup, hair, accessories, and more. Influencers often work with stylists, photographers, and other creative professionals to create a consistent and cohesive look that aligns with their brand.
If an influencer promotes healthy living, they might wear athleisure clothing, carry a water bottle, and incorporate yoga poses into their photoshoots.
Self-Surveillance
Self-surveillance refers to the practice of monitoring oneself in order to maintain a particular image or identity. It involves observing one's behavior, appearance, and actions to ensure that they conform to societal norms and expectations. This can involve constantly evaluating one's physical appearance, personality traits, and interactions with others.
In the context of influencer culture, self-surveillance takes on a new meaning. Influencers must monitor their every move and presentation to maintain their brand image. They must be aware of what types of content will resonate with their audience and how they are perceived by others. As such, they develop habits of constant self-observation and analysis, focusing on their appearance, language, and behavior.
The Connection Between Influencer Aesthetics And Self-Surveillance
So how do these two concepts intersect? Influencer aesthetics teach individuals to eroticize self-surveillance. By carefully curating their visual style, influencers encourage their followers to engage in similar practices of self-monitoring. Influencers use their aesthetic as a tool to present themselves as desirable objects of desire, encouraging their followers to emulate them. This can lead to an obsession with body image, fashion, and social media perfectionism.
Influencers also set unrealistic beauty standards for their followers, promoting a narrow idea of what is attractive or acceptable. This can lead to feelings of inadequacy, low self-esteem, and body dysmorphia.
Influencers may promote harmful lifestyles, such as dieting, over-exercising, or drug use, which can have negative consequences for both physical and mental health.
As we've seen, influencer aesthetics and self-surveillance go hand-in-hand, leading to unhealthy behaviors and attitudes towards one's own body, appearance, and identity. It is essential to recognize the impact that influencer culture has on our lives and resist its influence by cultivating a more mindful approach to self-care and personal development. Let's strive for authenticity, individuality, and self-acceptance rather than trying to conform to a narrow ideal perpetuated by influencers.
How do influencer aesthetics teach individuals to eroticize self-surveillance?
Influencer aesthetics teach individuals to eroticize self-surveillance by cultivating an image of their bodies as commodities that need constant monitoring and maintenance. By presenting themselves as desirable objects for others' consumption, they reinforce the idea that attractiveness is achievable through rigorous discipline and attention to one's physical appearance. The pressure to maintain this idealized image can lead to obsessive behavior and negative body image issues.