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Man Dumps GF Because He Can’t Stand Her Fake Persona And Lies As An Influencer Online
Interview With Expert
Being a social media influencer requires a lot of hard work and dedication. You must live and breathe the persona you embody, and sometimes, doing so can carry undesirable consequences.
It’s something this man has grown way too familiar with. He had been dealing with his influencer girlfriend for the last six months and had seen everything that had been happening behind the scenes. That includes the fake persona she had been presenting to the camera, as well as her ugly side behind it.
His discovery had shocked him to the point where he needed to share his story on Reddit.
RELATED:
A man shared his displeasing experiences with his influencer girlfriend
Image credits: triangleprod (not the actual photo)
He went on to expose the fake persona she had been putting on
Image credits: freepik (not the actual photo)
The experience taught him a valuable lesson, which he also shared
Image credits: doesanyofthismatter
The importance of abiding by algorithms and the necessity to entertain the audience are key considerations for influencers
You’ve likely heard the same story of an influencer’s manufactured, heavily-filtered persona. The author’s girlfriend is one of the many cases of people who put on a mask when they’re in front of the camera, an image that is entirely different from who they truly are.
As our experts have noted, authenticity is still the name of the game. However, the importance of algorithms and entertainment creates a conflicting objective for influencers.
“Brands realize that their audience wants to be entertained 24/7, 365 days a year, but that is just not humanly possible, making these ‘virtual influencers’ the perfect solution to a puzzling query,” marketing professional and Marygrove.com CMO Josh Eberly told Bored Panda.
Former TikTok employee and House of Marketers managing director Iñigo Rivero added that while algorithms initially focused on “perfect visual content,” which resulted in expectations for “flawless” appearances, viewers can still see through the fakery.
“The ‘curated authenticity’ creates stronger connections with followers because it presents brand messages in an authentic way,” he stated.
Zenius co-founder Rohit Agarwal noticed a shift among creators, focusing on the visuals rather than the content itself. As a veteran in the marketing industry with over a decade of experience under his belt, he says it has done more harm than good.
“Audiences are engaging more with lesser-known influencers who produce small-scale content reminiscent of the early days of social media, as popular creators fixate on having every frame look perfect,” he explained.
Regarding authenticity, Uniyield founder and digital growth strategy expert Seun Osho says that authenticity in today’s social media age is different.
As he explained, creators are putting on a “sense of controlled vulnerability” where they reveal their weaknesses in a “moderated method.” This perfectly describes what the author’s girlfriend showed by all accounts.
Social media may support the development of narcissistic characteristics
The woman’s efforts to go to great lengths and put on the “mask” for the camera have gone too far, as the author noted. According to licensed therapist Matthew Bernarda, the nature of her work may encourage narcissistic behavior, which was what she was likely showing.
“People who need social validation through likes to survive in their work environment start to forget what genuine behavior looks like,” he stated, noting how the need for external approval may overshadow the person’s ability to be vulnerable.
Yet, despite what could easily be warning signs for a tumultuous life episode, the author seemed to have turned a blind eye. However, no expert would advise pursuing a relationship with a possible narcissist.
“You can be in a relationship with a narcissist. You can also eat gas station sushi. I wouldn’t recommend either,” leadership coach and TEDx speaker Ginny Priem quipped.
Licensed professional counselor Christian Shearer calls it a mistake, primarily because narcissists don’t respect the rights and autonomy of others.
“If an influencer shows those tendencies in their content-if they’re invasive and entitled- it’s a huge red flag,” he said.
At this point, the author can gradually distance himself from his girlfriend before eventually ending things. The fallout may be ugly, but he knows the truth. And given her seeming focus and intent on putting on a front, things can only get worse moving forward.
People in the comments shared their reactions as the author responded to some of them
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What do you think ?
LakotaWolf (she/her) 4 weeks ago (edited)
And then there's me on the rare occasions when I post pictures of myself online without one of my animals: GUYS LOOK HOW BIG MY FOREHEAD IS FOR REALS! Edit: someone downvoted my giant forehead! XD
Lee Banks 4 weeks ago
As someone without much interest in social media beyond sociological impact, op sounds incredibly reasonable. To make your money based on filtered videos, false expectations, and ruining folks self esteem is evil. Would any of y'all date someone who was proud of running an mlm or timeshare business? It's the same thing. I have friends that make their living with OF accounts, but they are open and honest about what they do. Shoot, they even do free tutorials. They specifically don't use filters to show how the aging process doesn't affect the way your s*x life can be. Influencers are just a mark of capitalism at its worst.
The_Nicest_Misanthrope 4 weeks ago
I've said it before and I'll say it again: influencers are pathetic liars who can't hold down a real job because they're too lazy, entitled and vain. F**k influencers.
Binny Tutera 4 weeks ago
A study from Brunel University London found that individuals who frequently post about their workouts on social media often exhibit narcissistic traits.
sweet emotion 3 weeks ago
I think he needs to warn her during the breakup speech that any use of his name or identifying characteristics on social media will be met with legal action on his part. Maybe have the business card of a lawyer in his pocket to show he means business.
Syd 4 weeks ago
Ummmm there's a point here that's Hella overlooked but I'll check out the post, but yeah uhhh.......as a millennial woman I have to ask, why is a millennial man going after/matching with women who appear to be college age??? Like he mentions being catfished and repeats about how he trusted women's photos of them to be accurate but then states how at the start of dating he realized women used their old photos.....so he is somewhere between 30 and 42 yrs old looking to match with women appearing to look 18-24? Im hoping the women were still listing their real age.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 4 weeks ago
I'm Gen X (so I'm in my 40s) and until very recently, I constantly got mistaken for someone in their early/mid-20s. It's really hard to judge someone's age by their appearance unless they're a child or very elderly (when it's still hard to pin down, but you have a better idea of the age ranges involved.) So someone LOOKING like they "could be in college" is somewhat meaningless. And IIRC, most of the major dating sites list the person's age either right after their first name (so for example, my profile would say "Crystal, 43") or very prominently in the person's stats. Most legit dating sites don't obfuscate ages on profiles.
Load More Replies...
Power puff scientist 4 weeks ago
Huh? How are men responsible for women using makeup, filters and Photoshop? Women want to look beautiful. Most of the time women say they do all of these for themselves. The woman in this story is doing it to make money. And somehow you want to blame men for that? Can you explain?
Load More Replies...
LakotaWolf (she/her) 4 weeks ago (edited)
And then there's me on the rare occasions when I post pictures of myself online without one of my animals: GUYS LOOK HOW BIG MY FOREHEAD IS FOR REALS! Edit: someone downvoted my giant forehead! XD
Lee Banks 4 weeks ago
As someone without much interest in social media beyond sociological impact, op sounds incredibly reasonable. To make your money based on filtered videos, false expectations, and ruining folks self esteem is evil. Would any of y'all date someone who was proud of running an mlm or timeshare business? It's the same thing. I have friends that make their living with OF accounts, but they are open and honest about what they do. Shoot, they even do free tutorials. They specifically don't use filters to show how the aging process doesn't affect the way your s*x life can be. Influencers are just a mark of capitalism at its worst.
The_Nicest_Misanthrope 4 weeks ago
I've said it before and I'll say it again: influencers are pathetic liars who can't hold down a real job because they're too lazy, entitled and vain. F**k influencers.
Binny Tutera 4 weeks ago
A study from Brunel University London found that individuals who frequently post about their workouts on social media often exhibit narcissistic traits.
sweet emotion 3 weeks ago
I think he needs to warn her during the breakup speech that any use of his name or identifying characteristics on social media will be met with legal action on his part. Maybe have the business card of a lawyer in his pocket to show he means business.
Syd 4 weeks ago
Ummmm there's a point here that's Hella overlooked but I'll check out the post, but yeah uhhh.......as a millennial woman I have to ask, why is a millennial man going after/matching with women who appear to be college age??? Like he mentions being catfished and repeats about how he trusted women's photos of them to be accurate but then states how at the start of dating he realized women used their old photos.....so he is somewhere between 30 and 42 yrs old looking to match with women appearing to look 18-24? Im hoping the women were still listing their real age.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 4 weeks ago
I'm Gen X (so I'm in my 40s) and until very recently, I constantly got mistaken for someone in their early/mid-20s. It's really hard to judge someone's age by their appearance unless they're a child or very elderly (when it's still hard to pin down, but you have a better idea of the age ranges involved.) So someone LOOKING like they "could be in college" is somewhat meaningless. And IIRC, most of the major dating sites list the person's age either right after their first name (so for example, my profile would say "Crystal, 43") or very prominently in the person's stats. Most legit dating sites don't obfuscate ages on profiles.
Load More Replies... Power puff scientist 4 weeks ago
Huh? How are men responsible for women using makeup, filters and Photoshop? Women want to look beautiful. Most of the time women say they do all of these for themselves. The woman in this story is doing it to make money. And somehow you want to blame men for that? Can you explain?
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