29 Shocking Truths About Influencers When No One’s Watching Revealed
Back in the day, The Platters sang about “The Great Pretender,” but if they were around today, they might just tweak that tune for social media influencers—folks who seem to have it all but are often faking the funk behind the scenes. Remember when kids dreamed of being astronauts? Fast forward, and now “influencer” is the shiny new dream gig. But how much of that glossy Instagram life is reality, and how much is just smoke and mirrors? People who know influencers off-camera spill the real tea—some inspiring, some cringeworthy, and a whole lot in between. Ready to peek behind the perfectly filtered facade? LEARN MORE.
Many, many years ago, when the vast majority of people in the world did not even know about rock’n’roll, let alone the internet, the great rock band The Platters recorded a song, the very first verse of which fully described the essence of modern social media influencers: “Oh, yes, I’m the great pretender, pretending that I’m doing well. My need is such, I pretend too much… I’m lonely, but no one can tell.”
And if decades ago, children dreamed of being, for example, astronauts, today influencer is perhaps one of the dream jobs. Social media is showing us the perfect beautiful picture of a prosperous life – but how true is that? People who know influencers in real life are trying to answer this question.
More info: Reddit
Click here & follow us for more lists, facts, and stories.
My BIL does a lot of work doing hobby videos. He had finally gotten some partnerships. He’s the same guy online and off. He just was really down for a long time and got into this since he wasn’t able to do his dream anymore. He works really hard on his channel while balancing a full time job, two kids and takes care of his mom and grandma when they need it. My husband and I are very proud of him!
Someone I am close to is a local “micro influencer”, she’s a nice person and her personality is pretty much the same, but the part that irks me is planning and doing things specifically for the ‘gram. For example, one time we were on vacation together and she wanted to go to a specific cafe just for the aesthetic. She bought a coffee, changed her outfit in the washroom (from sweats to a cute floral dress), took photos all around the cafe for half an hour, and then changed back into her sweats and threw out the coffee (she doesn’t even drink coffee, just bought the cheapest thing on the menu to justify being there). That level of fakeness left a bad taste in my mouth.
I think people only get to see 1 side of her. I see the behind the scenes which is the strategy and work that comes with curating an online image. So online you see a world traveler who is beautiful, polished,and fashionable. In real life she’s so much more than that, she is funny, hard working, strategic, sweet, smart, and generous. People get to see her reaping the rewards of her hard work and fantasize of an easier life. They don’t see all the little details it took to get there.
Her whole Persona is an endlessly happy, Good Vibes Only, Shoot For The Moon Cause At Least You’ll Land Among The Stars, Anyone Can Be Anything As Long As They Work At It kind of “hustler.” She suffers from clinical depression, insecurity, and low self esteem due to a *really* s****y childhood. I think it’s her way of fake it till ya make it.
My friend introduced me to an influencer here and we hung out a few times. Online she was projecting this image of being a powerful, independent woman who buys her own stuff and is super successful. In reality, she was broke; she used to go to expensive shops, get an empty bag, fill it with her own stuff and then take photos as if she went shopping. Her boyfriend was paying for everything and he got a dog, who she initially hated and used to refer to it as “the rat” UNTIL she realised her audience loved the dog so she kept posting pics of them together. The thing that bothered me most though was that even though she didn’t have a degree in marketing and had never done anything marketing-related [besides having a blog], she kept saying she deserved a great marketing job. As a marketing professional who’s spent hours on strategies and working at agencies, that s**t really [annoyed me].
I only have one personal friend who is an “influencer” (that I know of) and she’s pretty much the same irl. But, she’s into DIY home improvement, woodworking, plumbing and electrical, and building things, so her personality isn’t wrapped up in image or lifestyle. She’s more of a “how-to” influencer. I do work with beauty influencers (even the term makes me shudder) in real life, though, on a daily basis because I’m over digital marketing for a very large cosmetics/skin care company. We mostly work with people with over 250k followers. I have yet to meet any that I can actually stand. The ones we have worked with are the most insufferable, demanding, unprofessional group of people I’ve ever seen and their agents are often just as bad. In contrast, every single one of the professional models and actors we hire for shoots or commercials have been incredibly professional and kind to everyone on set.
RIVER OF GOODS LED Boho Ceiling Fan with Hand Woven Brown/Natural Rope - Macrame Knot Work and Hemp Rope Style Eclectic Cottage Decor - 52" L x 52" W - Rich Barnwood/Light Driftwood Fan Blades
(as of July 25, 2026 23:45 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Joking Hazard by Cyanide & Happiness - 360+ Funny & Inappropriate Comic Cards, Hilarious Party Games | Includes Add-Your-Own-Words Cards
$24.95 (as of July 25, 2026 23:45 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Fire Blanket -Certified 1500F Extra Thick, Glow In The Dark Fireproof Emergency Supplies. 500gsm, 0.5mm Thick Fire Blankets Emergency For Home. 5pc Fire Safety Emergency Blanket 40"x40" By Supa Ant
(as of July 25, 2026 23:45 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
RIVER OF GOODS Coastal 52 Inch Wooden Bead LED Ceiling Fan, Brown
(as of July 25, 2026 23:45 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Post Comment