Businesses are constantly looking for innovative and effective brand promotion strategies to survive and grow in the competitive world of business. Custom printed bags stand out as one of the best brand promotion tools most businesses can use today. If you are an entrepreneur, it is best that you know how effective these branded tools are. So, let’s dive into it.
One of the reasons why many businesses prefer to use custom printed bags is that they can be customized to suit many different purposes. Businesses using custom printed bags for brand promotion focus on having the business logo, name, colours, and other details on them.
It is also possible to customise them to suit your target audience in terms of size, functionality, and durability. Remember, there are many types of bags you can use for this purpose.
They Have the Power of Everyday Visibility
Custom printed bags provide consistent exposure of your brand, even after the initial purchase. Many other types of marketing strategies are not consistently visible, but a bag can provide exposure for as long as it is functional.
If you are looking for repeated exposure of your product, then you should consider custom printed bags from a reliable seller like RocketBags. Ensure they use high-quality printing and are made of a durable material for a long exposure of your logo and business name.
Custom Printed Bags Are Cost-Effective
Every business is constantly searching for cost-effective yet efficient marketing strategies. It is worth noting that you rely on custom printed bags if you want to save marketing budget. You can choose the type of bag that suits your budget, for instance tote bags, paper bags, or swag bags, which are all very affordable.
This will allow you to give many branded bags to your audience or even target a large number of them at once. Do your research and calculations well so you’ll have enough custom printed bags to promote your brand efficiently.
They Promote Brand Image and Customer Loyalty
Do you want branded products that will promote your brand image? Try custom printed bags for the best results. They do more than just display the logo and the name—they communicate your brand’s values to the target audience.
This will, in return, promote loyalty, bring in new customers, and help your business grow very quickly. Once you give a custom printed bag to a customer, they will most likely remember your business and even recommend it to others.
They Work Perfectly with Other Marketing Strategies
Using custom printed bags to market your business is not enough. You need other strategies, such as the use of your website, social media pages, and video marketing.
Custom printed bags work perfectly with these strategies. For instance, you could promote your website, social media pages, and other marketing platforms on the bags.
Conclusion
As you can see, custom printed bags are a key brand promotion tool in a modern business. Instead of focusing heavily on digital marketing alone, incorporate this strategy as well to see a major positive impact. Assess its impact to discover where you need to improve to make your business better.
Trade shows are more than just networking events—they’re marketing battlegrounds. With businesses competing for limited attention in crowded expo halls, visual branding has become a critical factor in how effectively a booth draws traffic and communicates value.
This field study explores the role booth aesthetics play in exhibitor success, focusing on layout, design elements, and visual consistency. The findings point to a clear trend: booths that prioritize visual branding consistently outperform those that rely on passive displays or generic setups.
Why First Impressions Matter
In a trade show setting, the average attendee spends just 3 to 5 seconds glancing at a booth before deciding whether to engage. That makes your visual presentation not just a decorative choice—but a functional tool for conversion.
According to a 2023 report from Freeman and CEIR, 64% of trade show attendees say the visual appeal of a booth influences their decision to stop and engage.
This means your visuals must instantly communicate professionalism, relevance, and value.
Key Elements of Effective Booth Aesthetics
Through on-site observation and participant interviews at multiple B2B trade shows across North America and Europe, the following elements emerged as the most impactful:
Color scheme: Consistency with brand colors reinforces recognition and credibility.
Lighting: Strategic lighting draws attention to key areas like demos or product displays.
Signage: Clear, legible text with a focused message—ideally one bold takeaway—is more effective than cluttered copy.
Layout: Open booth designs with visible entry points invite exploration; enclosed or cluttered layouts repel.
Branded materials: Items like custom table covers, banners, and floor mats provide low-cost, high-impact branding that ties the space together.
These aren’t just aesthetic choices—they influence traffic flow, visitor engagement, and ultimately lead generation.
Real-World Observations
At a recent international manufacturing expo, two mid-sized companies in similar industries provided a direct comparison. One featured a minimalist booth with branded fabric displays, coordinated staff apparel, and professionally printed collateral. The other used a generic rental booth with stock signage and limited branding.
Despite being located side-by-side, the branded booth reported over 3x the foot traffic, a longer average dwell time, and twice as many qualified leads. Interviews with attendees confirmed they perceived the more polished booth as more “established” and “trustworthy,” even though both companies had similar experience and offerings.
The Psychology Behind It
Design psychology plays a major role in visual branding. Humans are drawn to symmetry, contrast, and clean lines. We trust what looks organized. A booth that feels visually cohesive—where the color palette, typography, and materials align with the company’s brand—sends an unspoken signal of competence.
Conversely, inconsistent branding or poorly arranged visuals create subconscious friction. Visitors may walk by without consciously realizing why they didn’t stop.
Integrating Visual Branding Into Pre-Show Strategy
Effective trade show branding starts well before setup day. It requires a strategy that connects your booth design to your broader marketing goals. Here’s a checklist to include during your planning phase:
Finalize brand messaging and value proposition
Design signage and displays that match brand colors and tone
Order customized elements like banners or custom table covers ahead of time
Consider lighting and layout when booking booth space
Prep staff with uniforms or badges that reinforce your brand identity
Planning for visual impact isn’t just about grabbing attention—it’s about creating a consistent experience from first glance to post-show follow-up.
Final Thoughts
Trade shows offer a rare opportunity: high volumes of potential customers walking past your brand in person. But attention is earned, not given. Visual branding is no longer optional—it’s essential. Booths that invest in cohesive, thoughtful aesthetics don’t just look better. They perform better. And in a space where every footstep matters, that makes all the difference.
In the digital age, where inboxes are full and ads are everywhere, physical branding still holds power—especially when it’s personal. One of the smartest ways to boost customer retention and deepen brand loyalty is through thoughtful, custom print media. Unlike digital marketing, print is tactile, memorable, and often saved rather than scrolled past.
According to a study by the Direct Marketing Association, direct mail has a response rate of 4.4%, compared to just 0.12% for email, making it over 35 times more effective in grabbing a customer’s attention. That kind of staying power can be a game-changer for small businesses looking to stand out.
Here’s how you can use creative print strategies—from postcards to photobooks—to make your brand more memorable and meaningful.
Start with Purpose: What Are You Really Saying?
Before you invest in print media, clarify what message you’re trying to send. Print isn’t just about looking good—it’s about leaving a lasting impression that digital alone can’t provide.
Ask yourself:
Are you saying thank you or celebrating a customer milestone?
Are you showcasing your product or service in a more tangible way?
Do you want your customer to share your brand with someone else?
Is the print piece educational, commemorative, or promotional?
Every piece of printed material should serve a purpose and reinforce your brand values.
Personalized Print That Stays With Them
The more tailored your print media is, the more likely it is to resonate—and stick around. Customers love feeling seen and appreciated, and personalized print has the power to do just that.
Effective personalized print ideas:
Thank-you cards after a purchase with a handwritten message
Loyalty postcards with a discount code for repeat buyers
Mini lookbooks or style guides based on previous purchases
Birthday or holiday cards with exclusive offers
Milestone rewards like a surprise gift at the 10th order
Want to take it a step further? Design a photobook that captures a customer’s journey with your brand—showcasing user-submitted photos, product timelines, or behind-the-scenes looks. It’s part scrapbook, part brand story, and it turns customers into part of your community.
Use Print to Tell a Story
In marketing, stories sell. And print allows you to create rich, visual narratives that digital platforms often compress or overlook. Use brochures, zines, or inserts to share your “why,” introduce your team, or take customers behind the scenes.
Ways to craft a compelling brand story through print:
Founder’s letter about why the business was started
Timeline booklet of your product development journey
Customer features or testimonials with real photos
Spotlight on your process (e.g., sourcing, sustainability, craftsmanship)
Interactive formats like foldouts, checklists, or activity pages
Storytelling builds trust and emotional connection, which leads to long-term loyalty.
Make It Shareable
The best print materials don’t just stay with one person—they get passed around. When you create something visually compelling and useful, customers are more likely to share it with friends, family, or their own audiences online.
Tactics to make your print media shareable:
Eye-catching design and packaging
Branded hashtags or QR codes for social engagement
Inserts that invite participation (e.g., contests, feedback prompts)
Printables with value like checklists, recipes, or how-to guides
Limited-edition prints customers can collect or display
A beautifully printed piece can also double as a subtle advertisement sitting on someone’s coffee table or pinned to a bulletin board.
Final Thoughts
Creative print media isn’t just about marketing—it’s about building relationships. Whether it’s a heartfelt thank-you card, a custom loyalty booklet, or an invitation to design a photobook, print gives your brand weight—literally and figuratively.
As more brands chase digital clicks, the ones that slow down and connect through thoughtful, tangible experiences are the ones customers remember. And remember, loyalty isn’t just about what you sell—it’s about how you make people feel. Custom print makes it personal.
With the introduction of social media, majority of the population of the world is under the influence of it which is both positive and negative. It has changed the world scenario: education, politics, administration, health, society and so on. Youths are glued to social media and adults and senior citizens are no exception. This paper tries to highlight some of the issues faced in the field of politics, society and healthcare. The author took up this areas believing that society is deeply impacted by our health and the way the administration is run.
Key words: social media; politics; society; healthcare
Social media has become an integral part of our life. It no longer confine in staying connected with family and friends but it serve a bigger role such as forming public opinion, a platform for discussion for almost every field (society, administration, economy, politics, health and so on, both in the national and international arena). The use of social media is prevalent across all ages and professions and is pervasive around the world. Social media, nowadays, plays a significant role in shaping/changing our world.[1] As of January 2023, Facebook users have reached 3 billion (monthly active users)[2] Youtube – 2.49 billion; WhatsApp – 2 billion; Istagram – 2 billion.[3] A detailed analysis by the team at Kepios shows that there are 5.04 billion social media users around the world in January 2024, equating to 62.3 percent of the total global population.[4] Social Media such as Face book, Twitter and YouTube are not just mere innovations in the internet world, but are fast emerging as influencers and opinion creators.[5]
Definition of social media
Kaplan and Haenlein (2010) define social media as “a group of Internet-basedapplications that build on the ideological and technological foundations of Web2.0, and that allow the creation and exchange of user-generated content”.[6]According to Dewing (2010) social media is defined as “various types of internet services commonly associated with social media (sometimes referred to as web 2.0 includes the blogs, wikis, social networking sites, status-update services, media sharing sites)”.[7] Another definition provided by Mayfield (2008) describes these media as “online platforms that promote participation, openness conversation and connectedness”.[8]
Types of social media
Social Media can be classified as: Social Networking Sites (mainly used for connecting with friends and family focusing more on person-to-person conversations); Image-based sites(apps like Pinterest, Instagram, and Snapchat which are designed to amplify the sharing of images); Video sharing/streaming platforms/Discussion forums (which allow users to ask questions and get answers from different people) and Blogs and community platforms (Blogs are a great way for businesses and marketers to reach and provide credible information to their target audience).[9]
Social media and society
Social media deeply influences every aspect of our lives be it personal or our professional lives. Following are some of the positive as well as negative impact of social media in our society:
Positive impact
One simple example of positive impact of social media is very much prevalent during the time of Pandemic (Covid-19). Education was hard hit during the Covid-19 pandemic. It was with the help of social media that education was made available online to millions of student. In today’s time academic education is provided through various tools such as blogs, podcasts, e-learning, m-learning etc. Connectivity with family and friends living faraway places has become easier. It also helps in giving awareness regarding various topics, including current affairs, politics, environment, etc.[10]
Negative impact
It has become primary source for spreading fake news and information
Powerful people, companies and institutions misuse it to spread propaganda to meet their interests
Politicians /political parties use as a propaganda tool, setting a fake narrative to manipulate the ideology especially common people.
Use as a tool by Terrorists and Extremists extensively to spread hateful and violent ideologies
Trolling and bullying can become a serious issue affecting one’s health (mentally as well as physically).[11]
Role of Social Media in Politics
Social media which was considered as a tool for entertainment has change considerably. Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube and others have played a big role when it comes to administration. It has dismantled traditional barriers between politicians and their constituents.[12] It is seen that before 2009 general elections, Shashi Tharoor, a Congress MP who had previously served as UN Under-Secretary-General, was the only Indian politician with a Twitter account but today most of the politician has social media account.[13] For example, the most influential political leader on Twitter is Barack Obama (former US President). In 2008 Obama first started using Twitter and other social media sites during his presidential campaign. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014 election made Twitter his most important tool for communication, Joe Biden, Amit Shah, Arvind Kejriwal, Dalai Lama, Pope Francis are some of the prominent leaders who have used social media. It is worth mentioning that BJP reportedly operates around 200,000 to 300,000 WhatsApp groups and controls 18,000 fake Twitter handles.[14]
Social media influencer and politics
Social media influencer also plays important role in creating public opinion when it comes to politics. They are important in political marketing shaping narratives and engaging with diverse voters. Political parties collaborate with influencers of different types based on their campaign goals and budgets. Influencers can be categorised as Nano (0-10000 followers) and micro-influencers (10000 – 100000) connect with local communities, while macro (1-10 lakh) and mega-influencers (10 lakh and above) spread messages to a vast audience.[15]
In 2023, Ankit Baiyanpuria (a social media fitness influencer from Haryana) joined Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Shramdaan programme of the “Swachhata Hi Seva”[16] Union Ministers S Jaishankar (watched 6.6 million times), Nitin Gadkari (watched 2.2 million times), Piyush Goyal, Smriti Irani, Rajeev Chandrasekhar have given interviews to two prominent Youtubers Ranveer Allahabadia and Raj Shamani. Delhi chief minister Arvind kejriwal gave interview to comedian Kunal Karma in 2019; Chattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel was interviewed by YouTube content creator Samdish Bhatia in 2022; Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan interviewed by Shamani;[17]Congress leader Rahul Gandhi gave interviewed to Bhatia, Curly Tales and Mashable India during his Bharat Jado Yatra.[18] The Bharatiya Janata Party’s Manoj Tiwari and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray)’s Aaditya Thackeray have given similar interviews since 2022.[19] Biden recently rolled out the red carpet at the white house for hundreds of influencers including actor Kalen Allen (2 million) and artist Devon Rodriguez (9 million followers) hoping to persuade them to join his cadre of digital assets.[20] Trump has been cosy with conservation influencers. The list is endless.
Social media and political events
Incidents like the huge protests of 2012 regarding anti-corruption movement by Anna Hazare leading to the serious consideration of Lokpal Bill in the Parliament; the outrage following Nirbhaya gang rape case (2012) channelized through the social media led to bring changes in Rape Law; the development on the long awaited administrative issue of Telangana; the 2014 India’s Parliament Election called as “First social media election” made history as much of it took place online; presidential campaigns of Barack Obama way back in 2008 made history; the Arab Revolution or the Arab Uprising where social media played a significant role in bringing changes to the long dictatorial rule in Tunisia and Egypt in 2011. In Philippine, with the help of only text messages President Joseph Estrada was ousted in 2001. In 2012, in Romania it had helped in converting street movements into large cities.
Social media and Health
Human beings being a social creature need companionship. It is this connections that help humankind to ease stress, anxiety, and depression, boost self-worth, provide comfort and joy, prevent loneliness, and even add years to your life.[21]On the other, lacking of such connection can lead to serious health issue. Although, it is seen that social media have their own benefits but it can never replace the real world. Ironically for a technology that’s designed to bring people closer together, spending too much time on it actually make you feel more lonely and isolated.[22]
Benefits of social media in Healthcare Professionals (HCP)
Social media was widely used in health contexts by many especially during the time of Covid-19 pandemic.[23] It is used for various health purposes such as health interventions, health campaigns, medical education and disease outbreak surveillance.[24] Mention may be made that 80 per cent of cancer patients used it to connect with peers In US alone, 80 per cent of health organisations used social media accounts.[25] Social media provide HCPs with tools to share information, to debate health care policy and practice issues, to promote health behaviours, to engage with the public, and to educate and interact with patients, caregivers, students, and colleague.[26]
According to the Pros and Cons of Social Media in Healthcare (2022 Guide)[27] following are some of the benefits and drawbacks of social media in healthcare:
The positive side:
Patients use social media sites
About 80 per cent of patients used internet to make healthcare-related search, therefore, it’s important to connect practice and services to the internet
Easily Build Relationships with Patients
Patients want to feel that they have a close relationship with their physicians. According to a survey conducted on behalf of American Osteopathic Association roughly 42 per cent adults want to follow their healthcare professionals on social media
Showcase accomplishments and activities through social media platforms
Patients want to know that their doctors and nurses are involved in the community.
Attract Healthcare Professionals to the Workplace
Research shows that about 90 per cent of physicians use social media for professional reasons. It becomes easy to find more doctors and nurses to join your company.
Drawbacks of social media in healthcare
Security Risks: The biggest is that their private information might get stolen.
False information
Lack of Control from the Healthcare Professional: there is no way to prevent negative comments.
Time-Consuming: it is not easy to produce new content all the time.
The Danger of Self-Diagnosis
Conclusion:
Social media have become so important in every sphere of our life. From the above discussion we can conclude that there is an ever increasing rate of internet users all around the world. The facilities provided by social media cannot be comparing with any other in every field (politics, society or health, as discussed above). It is up to us to utilities it in the most appropriate manner.
References:
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (2012) Statement on use of social media by pharmacy professionals, 69(23): 2095-2097 at: www.ashp.org/DocLibrary/BestPractices/AutoITStSocialMedia.aspx at Accessed 16/03/2024DOI: 10.2146/sp120011
Braun LA, Zomorodbakhsch B, Keinki C, Huebner J. (2019) Information needs, communication and usage of social media by cancer patients and their relatives. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 145(7):1865-1875
Chen, Junhan and Wang, Yuan (2021) Social media use for health purposes: systematic Review, Journal of Medical Internet Research, 23(5) doi:10.2196/17917
Dewing, Michael (2010) Social media an introduction, Social affairs division, parliamentary information and research services, Library of Parliament.
Dewing, Michael (2012) Social media an introduction, Social affairs division, parliamentary information and research services, Library of Parliament (Revised)
Fogelson NS, Rubin ZA, Ault KA (2013) Beyond likes and tweets: an in-depth look at the physician social media landscape, Clin Obstet Gynecol. 56(3):495–508.
George DR, Rovniak LS, Kraschnewski JL (2013) Dangers and opportunities for social media in medicine. Clin Obstet Gynecol. 56 (3): 453–462. doi: 10.1097/GRF.0b013e318297dc38
Jha A, Lin L, Savoia E. (2016) The use of social media by state health departments in the US: analyzing health communication through Facebook. J Community Health 41(1):174-179.
Kaplan, A.M. and Haenlein, M. (2010) Users of the World, Unite! The Challenges and Opportunities of Social Media. Business Horizons, 53, 59-68. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bushor.2009.09.003.
Kaur, Surjit and Kaur, Manpreet (2013) Impact of social media on politics, Gian Jyoti e-journal,3(4): 23-29.
Kudumula, Durga (2022) What Are the Types of Social Media? at
Mayfield.Is blogging innovation journal? at http//www.innovationjounral.org//archive/INJO Baltaziz,pdf. Accessed date 16/03/2024
Moorhead SA, Hazlet DE, Harrison L, et al. (2013) A new dimension of health care: systemic review of the uses, benefits, and limitations of social media for health care professionals. J Med Internet Res. 15(4): e85.
Peck JL. (2014) Social media in nursing education: responsible integration for meaningful use, Journal of Nursing Education, 53 (3): 164–169 at https://doi.org/10.3928/01484834-20140219-03
Pros and Cons of Social Media in Healthcare (2022 Guide)
[1] Peck JL. (2014) Social media in nursing education: responsible integration for meaningful use, Journal of Nursing Education, 53 (3): 164–169 at https://doi.org/10.3928/01484834-20140219-03
[7] Dewing, Michael (2010) Social media an introduction, Social affairs division, parliamentary information and research services, Library of Parliament.
[8]Mayfield.Is blogging innovation journal? at http//www.innovationjounral.org//archive/INJO Baltaziz,pdf. Accessed date 16/03/2024
[9] Kudumula, Durga (2022) What Are the Types of Social Media? at
[23] Chen, Junhan and Wang, Yuan (2021) Social media use for health purposes: systematic Review, Journal of Medical Internet Research, 23(5)doi:10.2196/17917. Also see Braun LA, Zomorodbakhsch B, Keinki C, Huebner J. (2019) Information needs, communication and usage of social media by cancer patients and their relatives. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 145(7):1865-1875
[25] Ibid. Also see Jha A, Lin L, Savoia E. (2016) The use of social media by state health departments in the US: analyzing health communication through Facebook. J Community Health 41(1):174-179.
[26] Bernhardt M, Jay and Alber, J and Gold RS (2014) A social media primer for professionals: digital do’s and don’ts, Health Promot Pract,15(2):168–172 at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24396119/#:~:text=When%20used%20wisely%20and%20prudently,recognition%20and%20improve%20one’s%20reputationaccessed date 16/03/2024 DOI: 10.1177/1524839913517235. Also see Fogelson NS, Rubin ZA, Ault KA (2013) Beyond likes and tweets: an in-depth look at the physician social media landscape, Clin Obstet Gynecol. 56(3):495–508. See Moorhead SA, Hazlet DE, Harrison L, et al. (2013) A new dimension of health care: systemic review of the uses, benefits, and limitations of social media for health care professionals. J Med Internet Res. 15(4): e85.
[27] Pros and Cons of Social Media in Healthcare (2022 Guide)
In one of my previous articles, I talked about influencer culture and the growth in the number of influencers in the past decade. One of the things that I mentioned was how some influencers tend to leave their day jobs and possibly even drop out of school to pursue social media. This was perhaps not very normal when influencers were just coming about, but has become extremely normalised in the past year or two. It is also more common amongst those having a big platform on YouTube than it is with any other form of social media. But now the question that arises is, should influencers quit their day jobs or drop out of school to pursue social media?
Up until the late 90s and early 2000s, getting a standard 9-5 job, working your way up the corporate ladder and retiring at 60 was the norm. However, the younger generations are realising from a very early age that they want to break this norm. They want to do something creatively fulfilling and entertaining, which is one of the many reasons why the number of influencers has risen. People as young as 15 have gained fame and are making millions. However, it is very easy for this fame to get to their head and convince them that they are invincible. Their audience keeps praising them which only inflates their ego, and they’re eventually convinced to drop out of school.
It is understandable why this is so appealing. Who would want to sit in a classroom memorising formulas when you can be making millions from the comfort of your home. Some say that there is no right or wrong path for students to follow in life. However, it should be realised that it is simply not realistic for children to drop out of school. Your knowledge is a weapon no one can take from you. It is a common fact that some of the stuff that school teaches you is nonsensical and you won’t ever need to “solve for x” in real life. But this doesn’t mean that you should call it overrated and drop out. As much as you hate it, it is a crucial part of life. It gives you some important skills needed to be a functioning member of society. We need to stop propagating the idea that school is worthless and kids should drop out, and also better the education system, not dismiss it.
Now, if we talk about adults leaving their day jobs for social media or YouTube, there is a difference. For one, they have already passed from school and are much more independent than a teenager who is considering to drop out. Many people tend to look down on content creating and label it as a “fake job”. I believe that if something supports you economically and helps you earn money, it is a job. Social media is unstable and one isn’t going to be relevant forever. Also, those are more privileged and have more advantages are going to have a much more stable life if they quit their day jobs, so this is something which is not really for everyone. But, since the rules are different for adults and teens, one cannot really decide whether people quitting their day jobs for social media is right or not.
I believe that if one chooses to pursue social media full time, they should have some other responsibilities or hobbies in their life. Having some other structure in your life can help you to avoid being stuck all day in the toxicity of social media, as it can get extremely negative. It is also important for them to have a backup plan, as internet fame can be fleeting, and while taking advantage of your online platform when it is thriving is great, one shouldn’t expect it to last forever and work on other things on the side.
If you told someone back in 2010 that Youtube, a website where one can do nothing but watch cat videos, and Instagram, a newly launched social media app nobody had heard about, could be someone’s source of income, they definitely wouldn’t have believed it. Fast forward to 2020, there is no shortage of so called “influencers” who make more money within a month, than most people will ever make at their day jobs (sad, but true). Anyone who has a platform and an audience who’ll listen to them can be deemed as an influencer, and it is a much sought after career nowadays.It is no surprise that the present day youth is gravitating towards creative and flexible digital occupations. They get to do what they love and not have their lives dictated by anyone, and the rising relevance of social media has made it possible. It is even common for people to drop out of school or quit their jobs to pursue social media.
However there is nothing inherently wrong with having a platform to express your views and talk about your life, no matter how peculiar it sounds. If used correctly, a large platform can make a huge difference. It can be used to educate the people about what’s right and what’s wrong, as well as to throw light to important issues at hand. The problem arises when these platforms are used in the wrong way. With a massive outlet and huge audience comes the great responsibility of recognising your influence and using it the proper way to educate the masses about the right thing, no matter how difficult it may be. Sadly, many choose to go the easy way than the right way. Recently, I have seen a massive surge in clothing hauls on Youtube. Not only do these videos provide free advertising to fast fashion brands, but also promote reckless spending habits on stuff one doesn’t even need. Similarly, content creators whose audiences are predominantly young kids, end up ingraining harmful ideas like disrespectfulness, and sometimes even racism and misogyny in them, which is extremely damaging.
The recent Black Lives Matter movement has shown us that many of these influencers don’t actually care about issues at hand, they just see them as an opportunity to display themselves as woke to the audiences. I can think of hundreds of people who posted one black square on their profiles in solidarity with black lives matter, and then went back to their regular posting schedules, instead of maybe talking more about it and raising awareness about why the movement is necessary. Many of them even showed up at protests just to get their photos taken, showing that this grave and important issue at hand was nothing more than a trend for them.
Every rose has its thorn. If someone wants to be an influencer for the fame and the money, they have to deal with the hard parts of the job. Having a huge platform is a privilege, one very few have. They should recognise their privilege, and use it in a way which is best for this world, best for humanity.
International Journal of Research (IJR) 