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The modern world has a weird relationship with influencers. Some people love ‘em. Some hate ‘em. Others love to hate them (or hate that they love them). Whichever group you think you’re a part of, there’s little denying that influencers are here to stay in some shape or form for good. But they don’t lead the ‘perfect’ lives they want you to think they do. In fact, seeing how they act in their natural environment might just break every single illusion you ever had about them. That’s where the immensely popular ‘Influencers in the Wild’ Instagram account comes in.

The 3.5-million-follower-strong account is dedicated to collecting the quirky, goofy, and embarrassing side of influencers. Scroll down to see just how ridiculous these ‘perfect’ influencers can be, and upvote your fave pics and videos. You can find Bored Panda’s earlier post about ‘Influencers in the Wild’ right here.

Bored Panda wanted to learn more about the recent changes in the influencer industry, so we reached out to Brooke Erin Duffy, an associate professor at Cornell University who studies the intersection of media, culture, and technology. Read on for her insights!

More info: Instagram | Facebook | Website

#2

Hope She Remembered To Make A Wish

Hope She Remembered To Make A Wish

influencersinthewild , maddiemonti_ Report

#3

This Video Was Doomed From The Start

This Video Was Doomed From The Start

influencersinthewild , noelleoninsta Report

Duffy from Cornell University said that the coronavirus pandemic has sparked two interrelated responses in the influencer industry, neither of which is entirely new.

“The first involves ringing the death knell on influencers because of brands' dwindling advertising budgets; the second stems from the belief that aspirational imagery and markers of privilege are less and less relevant in a moment of widespread social and economic upheaval,” she explained.

“The latter response, crucially, seems to be especially gendered. Indeed, while women influencers have long faced backlash for being what audiences deem inauthentic, excessively self-promotional, or ‘fake,’ the critical blowback seems to have intensified in the wake of the pandemic.”

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According to Duffy, most of the influencers she’s interviewed believe that their careers are “profoundly unstable as they are at the whims of audiences, advertisers, and crucially, platforms' algorithms.”

The pandemic has exacerbated these issues and has caused some influencers to branch out and develop “different vestiges of their brand persona, most especially on TikTok.”

Duffy added that wider popular culture appears to be centered around influencers’ claims to authenticity or realness. “Photo manipulation has a long history in the media and advertising industries, but the critiques of influencers' alleged photoshopping is deeply individual and hence personal,” she said.

#8

Influencers Are Returning To The Ocean. Nature Is Healing

Influencers Are Returning To The Ocean. Nature Is Healing

influencersinthewild , rogerh1955 Report

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ijustchangedmyname avatar
I Just Changed My Name
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't know what's more troubling, the coordinated mermen fins or the fact that they came to a mural consensus that this was a good idea

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#9

Went To The Ocean To Throw Her Dead Mother’s Ashes Into It And They Blew Back In Her Face. If This Ain’t A Metaphor For 2020 Then I Don’t Know What Is

Went To The Ocean To Throw Her Dead Mother’s Ashes Into It And They Blew Back In Her Face. If This Ain’t A Metaphor For 2020 Then I Don’t Know What Is

influencersinthewild , shesachampion Report

The ‘Influencers in the Wild’ social media project was started on January 10, 2020. By the end of the month, it had already grown to 695k followers. Now, there’s over 3.5 million of them and the community just keeps on growing. Its success could be attributed to the fact that it posts honest, unfiltered content and asks its community to actively participate in what gets shown.

Forbes explains that influencer marketing is very powerful because it lets brands promote themselves directly to the target audience in a post-TV world where social media is more and more widely used. Marketing products through influencers is a question of trust and getting potential consumers to believe the illusion that social media stars actually like the product they’re advertising.

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#10

Pole. Glass High Heels. Low Tide. Garbage Truck. Yep, This Is A Perfect Video

Pole. Glass High Heels. Low Tide. Garbage Truck. Yep, This Is A Perfect Video

influencersinthewild , scott__beach Report

#11

Sir This Is What The Zoom Feature Is For

Sir This Is What The Zoom Feature Is For

influencersinthewild , kn.wildlife Report

#12

Good Bye Hope It Was Worth It

Good Bye Hope It Was Worth It

influencersinthewild Report

However, the influencer industry has been hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, forcing them to adapt. Economic difficulties mean that some brands have less money to advertise through influencers. Meanwhile, events continue to be canceled and travel isn’t as easy as it used to be. Travel and fashion influencers aren’t doing so well anymore.

However, other influencers saw a surge in attention during the pandemic. Categories like at-home fitness, gardening (or rather plantfluencing), and cooking took off as people are spending more time at home and are concerned about their health. Also, more social media stars are foregoing support from brands and marketing their own services. Now those are the kinds of influencers we can get behind. But it’d still be fun to see how they act in the wild, too!

#13

National Geographic Photographer Captures Beached Influencer As People Just Walk Around Like Nothing Is Wrong. So Sad!

National Geographic Photographer Captures Beached Influencer As People Just Walk Around Like Nothing Is Wrong. So Sad!

influencersinthewild , __l_n_ Report

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#14

Influencers In The Wind

Influencers In The Wind

influencersinthewild , hannahcebull Report

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stonesteps66 avatar
Cal
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If people want to take pics of themselves & places they visit why does it matter. This holier than thou attitude is so boring

mcilveen avatar
John McIlveen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If she sat three more feet to the right she would have never fallen.

don503765 avatar
Donald Holder
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That looks like it's going to be extremely painful and expensive when's done at the ER.

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WildBerry
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All was fine until she farted and shot herself right off the sign

navydoc192 avatar
Steven Meyer
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Her southwestern point, it’s about to hit Africans most Southwest point

sj-dumond avatar
JD Lee
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ladies, keep yo nekked cheeks off public signs. R. E. S. P. E. C. T. *Find some; your butt will thank you*

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#17

I’m Not Gonna Lie, When Coachella Got Canceled, I Was Upset. From The Perspective Of Content Only

I’m Not Gonna Lie, When Coachella Got Canceled, I Was Upset. From The Perspective Of Content Only

influencersinthewild , littlemiss_ky Report

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postboredom
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Here's another idea. Freaking stand on your own legs, give a good smile and say cheese. *snaps fingers* Done.

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#20

Dan Bilzerian Wyd Bro It’s Like 3 Degrees Out

Dan Bilzerian Wyd Bro It’s Like 3 Degrees Out

influencersinthewild , rachelynh Report

#22

This Looks Like It Belongs On Failsalad

This Looks Like It Belongs On Failsalad

influencersinthewild , leor_saghian Report

#23

I Literally Demand To See The Final Shot

I Literally Demand To See The Final Shot

influencersinthewild , tarapeutic Report

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Olivia Agave
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not seeing what is wrong here, just a dude in a gradient mertail. More dudes in mertails please.

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#24

Hi Yes, I’d Like To File A Formal Complaint Against Mankind

Hi Yes, I’d Like To File A Formal Complaint Against Mankind

influencersinthewild , ivenhays Report

#27

Let’s Take A Break From The Heavy Stuff. Here’s A Good Old Fashioned Wave Smash

Let’s Take A Break From The Heavy Stuff. Here’s A Good Old Fashioned Wave Smash

influencersinthewild , sitara_hewitt Report

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Dragonfruit'nrollerskates
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually, I would use the bottom one for my insta. Who else can say they have this one-of-a-kind shot?

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#29

“So A Lot Of You Guys Have Been Asking About My Flight Routine”

“So A Lot Of You Guys Have Been Asking About My Flight Routine”

influencersinthewild Report

#30

Making Montreal Look Good

Making Montreal Look Good

influencersinthewild Report

Note: this post originally had 44 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.