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Many people and businesses hate the term "influencer." Especially those individuals who attach it to themselves and start demanding rather than negotiating. However, the growth of influencer marketing often means they're still getting offers they do not want. To deter them away, people have begun to voice their disapproval both online and in real life. Whether it's a humorous post on Facebook or a stingy sign next to their establishment, one thing is clear: influencers have to adapt their strategies and communication methods in order not to lose potential customers.
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#1
This Artist Greets All Influencers With An Offer
Charles Sim 5 years ago
That's how it should be. A value for value exchange. The influencer promotes FIRST, then receives the benefit of providing value for whom they've promoted.
Carole Strawn 5 years ago
Any self absorbed idiot can be an influencer. Sorry people, that's not a real job.
Louisiana Lover 5 years ago
Some people think they are entitled to live a free life. Like, wth?
Karen Klinck 4 years ago
Nice life if you can get it, I guess. Reminds me of the old-time snake-oil salesmen--although even they worked harder than an 'influencer'.
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Leah May 5 years ago
I can believe it, I have a Facebook group and when people join just to post 'ads', I suggest that they first post a link to the group/other on their page and then ...they can post their 'ad' to my group. They also never take it up. They always want something for nothing. And that offer i only made to those with 'ads' that are less spammy and relevant to the group.
Cat Monaghan 5 years ago
If they are TRULY that good, it should be easy to accomplish. Too bad no one has the guts to accept your challenge.
Samantha C 4 years ago
thats actually a good deal, if they were actual influencers they'd jump on that.
Cayleigh Stickler 5 years ago
That's a KILLER offer! Also, I think it's funny how people stop believing in their skills and community once accountability comes into play.
Jayme Witwer 5 years ago
That's an amazing deal for someone famous enough to actually influence people...but if they're that famous, the probably don't need to ask for freebies. Lol
Corie Ball 5 years ago
I think that’s a great proposal and any serious influencer who believes in their “ability to influence” should be confident that they would be refunded. Maybe I’ll start an “honest influencer” page 🤷🏼♀️ I’ll give it a go and test their theories lol.
Nathalie Langevin 5 years ago
Smart move. Anyone so sure he/she influences other people would jump on your offer!
Chantal Hobbelen 5 years ago
I am an influencer yet nowadays when people contact me, I ask for money. You can call me crazy but in reality it's a fair deal. I am a professional photographer, I deliver HQ photos and spent lots of time and money in my business, so you should pay for me. It's what big companies do, too. They pay for their photographers. They also pay for their models. Okay influencer models are not actual models most of the time and are just in it for the fame. I love the solution of this person though, but I won't do it for free anymore. But then, I am also not one to send messages to businesses asking if I can promote their stuff. They need to come to me first. I find it extremely rude if one asks if they can promote stuff for free. That's a big nope from me. Butplease respect your photographer though
Chantal Hobbelen 5 years ago
I must add I think this post is mainly about influencers asking for free stuff rather than being asked
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Cayleigh Stickler 5 years ago
That's also a KILLER offer! It's funny how people stop believing in their skills and community once accountability is thrown in.
#2
Influencer Tries To Get Accommodation For Free, They End Up Banning All Bloggers From Their Business
#3
White Banana Beach Club Makes A Wild Suggestion To Influencers
#4
This Ice Cream Man’s Response To A Choosing Beggar Gives Me Hope For Humanity
#5
Sick And Tired Of Influencers This Ice Cream Place Introduces A Special Offer
#6
Influencer Claims Their Work Is Very Hard, Gets Shut Down
James Thompson 5 years ago
Lots of work doesn't mean that they aren't insufferable. Also, the term "influencer" makes me cringe. But at the same time, I'd like to get $500k for a single social media post.
#7
The Only Way To Protect Your Business From Wild Cb's
#8
This Fake Guru Has 186k Followers And Always Post About How Much Money He Makes
#9
The Way They Started Their Letter Is Worth A Separate Post
#10
D Grade Reality Cook Tries To Offer Exposure To Award Winning Restaurant
#11
Influencer Asks To Provided Food For 300-320 Guests For Free
Katinka Min 5 years ago
Even I can feel the bruning insult at the suggestion to deliver tons of excellent food that was produced with much work and love, just to have it thrown away.
#12
"I Guess I Just Lost The Biggest Opportunity Of My Life"
#13
Restaurant Believes This Influencer Has No Right To Review Their Place
#14
This Influencer Was Looking For A Personal Trainer That Would Pay Her For The 'Incredible' Opportunity Of Training Her
#15
My Friend Is A Photographer And He Told Me That He Usually Gets Tons Of Messages Like This One!
#16
Clothing Designer Is Surprised With Influencer's 'Great' Offer
Kaisu 5 years ago
When you have only 8k followers, you have no right asking for something for free and should just gratefully accept it if some company does want to work with you. Sure it's different when you have a million followers and an ad would reach a large number of people, but with 8k it's not worth it for any company
#17
Yelper Is Mad Because Restaurant Didn't Them Free Meal In Exchange For Potential Ig Exposure
James Thompson 5 years ago
The level of self-absorbent attitude is so incredible with these people. I almost have a sort of grudging respect for the kind of chutzpah that it requires to make these sort of requests.
#18
Yeah I Need Exposure, But Not This Way, Also I Think The Amount Of Emojis He Used Is Scary
James Thompson 5 years ago
This sounds like some fort of scam more than a legit influencer (if there is such a thing). The grammatical errors and how the sender is trying to create a sense of urgency regarding the money being sent smacks of scam. Plus, it's not audacious enough to be a real thing. $10 is enough to make a quick scam worth your time but not enough that it'll be too hard to get people to pay.
#19
Burgers For Bullcrap
#20
‘Influencer’ Bride With 55k Followers Tries To Get Wedding Shot For Free, Photographers Destroy Her With Sarcastic Response
#21
Why Is It That When You Turn Down "Promotion!!!" In Exchange For Real Hard Work, These People Instantly Do A 180?
#22
Likes Do Not Pay The Bills Ma'am
Stannous Flouride 5 years ago
And even a quick drawing does not take into account the years of education, training, and practice that led to the ability to create it.
#23
"We Kindly Retract Our Wish To Work With You”
Katinka Min 5 years ago
Well, at least these influencers were polite when their request was rejected.
#24
Free Food In Exchange For Posts
#25
Traveling Blog Asks If They Can Feature A Hit Restaurant In Their Blog - Then Ask To Be Compensated For It
Wil Vanderheijden 5 years ago
Yes, we can offer you to be a dishwasher in the #1 restaurant in WA..
#26
Laura Worthington Of Laura's Little Bakery Is Sick Of People Asking For Freebies
#27
He Said He'd Fry My Router So This Is Goodbye
James Thompson 5 years ago
Fry his router? Where'd it say he'd do that? I'd like a bit more background on this. Especially because the person demanding free service is bragging about his 315 followers. I have somewhere around that many FB friends and I hate people and am the definition of anti social.
#28
For Anyone Who Wants To Know What Happened To Towie
Tor Rolf Strøm 5 years ago
Whoa, I know violence is bad and all, but I'm feeling such a need to punch this person in the face.
#29
New Tactic Against Influencers? He Never Responded
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Whatever... 5 years ago
Just last week I witnessed an 'influencer' get blasted at our favorite Italian restaurant. This place is always busy, packed with the line out the door. The girl in front of me wanted to speak to the owner (he's also the head chef). This guy is old-school Italian, and doesn't play around. She tells him she's an influencer, and wants a 'sample of everything ' . He directed her to the girl taking orders. No, she wanted it comped for a review. He yelled, "How's everyone enjoying your meals?" Cheers . "That's all the reviews I need". I thoroughly enjoyed watching her stand there looking like she got slapped in the face.
lemsip 3 years ago
Even the mommy bloggers who display stolen recipes on their blogs and are a type of influencer. They get paid a huge fortune to be sponsored by food companies and manufacturers of cleaning products. I thought they did it for fun and recognition. There was an Australian psycho thriller about a mommy blogger who was pregnant and engineered envy in a single woman who worked in the local supermarket. Called The Secret She Keeps. The supermarket employee admired her and put her on a pedestal. She should have hated her instead for her boring blog and ripping off food companies.
Load More Replies... Wil Vanderheijden 5 years ago
If you want to shame those parasites you shouldn't blur their names. They have made themsleves known as "Influenza" so let them face the consequences of their entitlement.
Leo Domitrix 5 years ago
"Influencer" = lazy narcissist using Photoshop-level filters. "Collaborate" = free load. No, they are not working "hard af" as one of those people said. Scroll through Insta in "lifestyle" and it's all a blur of "GIVE ME! Or else". When my toddler godson says that, he gets a time-out. So... *click* or *swipe* and on to actual web content like, y'know, cat pictures!
Kenny Kulbiski 5 years ago
I guess I lead a sheltered life. The only influencers I've ever run across have been on posts like this on Panda.
Dippin Dot 5 years ago
I don't even have an Instagram account to influence or be influenced.
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Jenica Thomas 5 years ago
As a graphic designer I get asked to do free or deeply discounted work regularly. If I won't do it for the average Joe, who doesn't make much money, I'm sure as hell not going to do it for someone who chooses not to work and is only exchanging services with a post (that might only be up for an hour or two??). My time, equipment and needs are too important to just give away free to just anyone who asks. That being said I won't get rude with someone who does ask. That's equally as wrong. But when someone simply tells you no, they can't, don't go into a tizzy because you think you are entitled. I assure you, you're not.
James Thompson 5 years ago
People seem to think that since art is a creative product, that they shouldn't have to pay for it. I do photography, and have done it professionally in the past and am familiar with what you describe.
Load More Replies... Cristina Steele 5 years ago
I’m sorry. I don’t get the “influencer” thing. Who exactly are these people? And who are they influencing? Why do they feel entitled to free goods & services? I noticed that most of the “influencers” got really nasty when businesses politely told them that they need to be paid for their time/products. Can there be that many entitled narcissistic a-holes out there? Haven’t these people ever heard the word NO before?
Mama Panda 5 years ago
Each and every post I wanted to comment "Wow...WTF?" I would have to type it out a lot so I decided to just say it here instead lol
Helena R 5 years ago
Surely these 'influencers' would have companies approaching them if they seriously had the power to bring in that many customers for the business?
lemsip 3 years ago
I thought that was the idea and probably was the case when instagram and the mommy blogs started. But there are too many influencers now and they are getting desperate.
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Human #1,232,867 5 years ago
People have way too much time to answer these jerks asking freebies. Just done' answer the email and move on. They don't deserve your time.
Mewton’s Third Paw 5 years ago
Yeah I don’t like influencers either but just “no thank you” works. People who write these long winded responses are just looking for exposure and aren’t different from the influencers. Everyone is lame in these situations
Load More Replies... Tinley's Aunt 5 years ago
We need to stop calling these people "influencers" and instead call them what they are. Scammers.
Leo Domitrix 5 years ago
Anyone else ever successfully pay a bill with "exposures" instead of dollars? Yeah, me, either.
Sadie Jayne 5 years ago
Is being an "influencer" some type of new mental illness? From what I could understand from this, is every single one of them are bat s**t crazy....
lemsip 3 years ago
Badmouthing companies who don't give into their demands for freebies and payments is certainly a mental illness. There's a term for that and it's 'protection racket'. Instead of the business owner having their windows smashed in they have their business badmouthed on Instagram and TikTok.
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deanna woods 5 years ago
Being an "influencer" on social media doesn't give you the right to demand free products and services from people and businesses. The fact that so many of these people think that just having followers on Instagram is enough to get free services is appalling. I am not on Instagram and even if I was I would not demand freebies in exchange for exposure. These people need to get a real job and stop their entitled whining.
Oskars Štāls 5 years ago
By reading the follower counts on the influencers profiles looks like I'm more of a influencer than they are
Nunya 5 years ago
There are so many REAL influencers (funny how spell-check says it's not a word...) on Youtube these days that these self-entitled fakes are not even a thing for me to consider. There are enough REAL influencers who show us how to file taxes, put on makeup, how to grow and care for various plants, how to assemble that piece of furniture you bought from IKEA, etc, etc, etc. There are people who give honest real-world reviews on products. These people are real "influencers". They give and give and eventually become popular enough to have a following, which they then get sponsors. People who actually WANT to advertise their products on their videos. So, when you want something for free, self-described influencers, please remember you have to earn things. America is a capitalist nation. In other words, it is a meritocracy.
lemsip 3 years ago
Their videos are usually monetized with advertising and they usually have qualifications or experience in what they demonstrate.
Load More Replies... Katinka Min 5 years ago
One again, I know why I also read bad reviews - often enough it's jsut somebody complaingin about something totally stupid. The visciousness in some posts is a bit shocking. I do think some of the asked peeps are overreacting, though. Just say No. No need to write half a page of indignant insults and call people Brats. But trying to destroy a business just because they don't give you freebies shoudl actually lead to a lawsuit.
James Thompson 5 years ago
They probably get tired of it and snap, like most people Would after a while.
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Christine M Quigley 5 years ago
I cannot believe how many spelling errors, and grammatical errors there are in this post...Did any of these people pay attention in school? And how many lazy, self-entitled people there are...Unbelievable..
Steve Barnett 5 years ago
Every time I say the word ‘influencer’ it always comes out as ‘influenza’; considering influenza’s an unwanted virus that plagues people, perhaps I’m saying it right?
George Digamma 5 years ago
I guess that, like in many other situations, this market, because it is a market whether we like it or not, will clear itself in a few years. The many will vanish and the few, more professionals in a good meaning, will continue.
Carson Skjerdal 5 years ago
Yep couldn't say it better. There is a market for influencers. This list is just the equivalent of basement bands wanting to get booked but only havin 2 fans
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Andrea Bell 4 years ago
This generation has ruined media for those of us who actually ARE proper journalists and photographers and editors etc. It's such a gong show out there now it's not even very interesting anymore to be part of a legit magazine. But to be fair, they can't get jobs because my parents generation ruined everything... so...
Living_Shadow 4 years ago (edited)
I'm an artist on Instagram and I'm pretty small rn, so no influencers have asked me for stuff like this yet. But I do follow a lot of other, bigger, artists and I hear about these kinds of things all the time. It's really annoying because people don't take artists, musicians, designers, and other related businesses seriously enough. There's this whole stigma that they're not "real" professions and it makes me really angry. People work hard to achieve their skill.
Melissa Cavanaugh 4 years ago
People who can't even influence their own spelling and grammar are automatically worthless on social media.
Freya the Wanderer 4 years ago
It's wonderful to see so-called influences get owned! They are lazy bums who want to get their money for nothing and their chicks (or dudes) for free. I suspect a lot of these "influencers" are liars, claiming to be influencers in hopes of getting free stuff. You want stuff, do some honest work and earn money to spend.
Redfox 5 years ago
My friend worked at the tulip festival recently. SOooooo many influencers were taking glamour photos inside the fields of colourful tulips. He was telling me all about it. So I went one day to see the flowers etc. Bunch of certain nationality were in the field. Having clearly been told by the staff (and my friend who was staff that day too) to get out. It is clearly marked to not enter the fields. Staff left, in their high viz jackets. Influencers mutter and giggle and climb right on back in. I turn and say, "Are you totally deaf? GET out of the field before I call the police." HUGE bright red faces. One pretends not to speak English. I say, "I lip read, coz I am partially deaf, I know you speak English, stop acting dumb." All get out of the field looking positively chastised. I explain to them the flowers only last a very short time, and once damaged by all the photographing influencers they are no longer! Bright red faces, lots of sorry sorry. I stood there and waited. They left.
Edo Alva 5 years ago
Influencer my a*s.. Don't get me wrong, I know there's bunch of actual influencers who act just like a good infuencer supposed to be. But these people, are incredibly disgusting human beings with no humility and humble traits whatsoever. What I'm saying, it's a shame that the terms of 'influencer' now becomes something that sounds toxic.
Teresa Taylor 5 years ago
Rule number one: If you need to go around calling yourself "an influencer," you're not. Rule number two: if you have to ASK for free stuff to promote to your social media followers, you are not "an influencer." Rule number three: if you don't understand rule number two, see rule number one.
Mikey 5 years ago
In the mid-2000s, in my early 20s, I started a food blog for fun. "Influencers" weren't a thing then, so when businesses started reaching out to me for exposure in exchange for meals I was ecstatic! You want to give me food and I just have to write about it?! Unreal in my mind. I think where influencer culture and I split was in how I viewed the site. I was just doing it for me. If I had modest success with it, hooray, but I'd never ask a business for free anything. I wrote plenty of articles where I paid for the food gladly. I was the one wanting to write about it, no one asked me to, so why should I expect anything in return?
Avital Pilpel 5 years ago
The all-important difference is that THEY asked YOU to write for them for a free meal. No reason to turn down a freebie someone offered you.
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OffKeySinger 5 years ago
Normally I click to see all the images. Couldn't do it this time. Influencers are brats that received too many participation ribbons in their childhood
Tiny Dynamine 5 years ago
Do you ever get the feeling that society is descending into hell? Hopefully, all these twats will get publicly shamed and crash horribly and then this whole idea will be dead by next year.
Tina Hugh 5 years ago
Did your comment arrest this ‘descent into hell’ or accelerate it? Also, drama much?
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Dian Parama Kosala 5 years ago
we need to expose their act and their influencer social media so people know how cheap they are..
Daniel Lee 5 years ago
Bloggers and vloggers are just lazy a*s idiots looking for easy monsy and free stuff. Fuxking pests....
Jasmine Walker 5 years ago
I have to know, does asking for free service in exchange for social media posts REALLY work for someone other than famous folks? I mean I would think if you are famous, clients would come to you-especially of you have 1.5mil followers.
YupItsMe1234 5 years ago
Can anybody imagine where we would be if myspace/facebook which led to this obsession with likes and followers on all platforms was never invented? I bet we would be partying on Mars right now...although I guess it wouldn't matter because we wouldn't make our Earth people jealous with pictures haha
Thunder 5 years ago
Well it is funny but I’m too lazy to read this all. That’s my own problem 🤣
Irma 1 year ago
I am a local guide on google. I paid for food the service and food was lovely. So i posted a good review and than was that. They knew i was a local guide and did check in on me but i wanted to pay like a decent human being and they asked me nicely how my evening was like a decent human being. I work my butt of a*s a chef and im nit doing it for 'exposure' i want to have enough money to live of off. Like they do
ELLIS CANNON 3 years ago
Whoever wrote this post: no-one deserves public shaming. it can ruin lives and drive people to suicide
David Johnson 4 years ago
This seems to be a difference in generational thought. I own a restaurant in Ecuador. Among other things we have vegan and vegetarian option. In our marketing plan, we have included inviting vegan and vegetarian "influencers" to our restaurant to try our vegan and vegetarian meals. We intend on giving them their meals for free because we understand that the people that follow them like them and trust them. We also understand that the most important aspect of any relationship is trust. We do not feel that we can establish the same level of trust that the "influencers" can. I have used influencers in other business endeavors with great success. We have gotten a ton of exposure for very little money which has translated into business. Like anything marketing related, you have to be selective about the influencers you use and make sure they are "targeting" your audience. In our minds, it isn't any different than bartering with the local media.
Bianca Du Toit 4 years ago
What in the everloving f**k... This is what I hate about this era we're living in.
Livio Siano 5 years ago
There are only a few "real" influencers in the world: Madonna, Kim Kardashian and Chiara Ferragni.
anotherboredpanda 5 years ago
I don't get it. Don't they make money with views of their postings? I've watched a video recently about Youtubers. It seems they make a lot of money just by people watching their videos. And then to have the audacity to ask for free stuff is beyond me.
Caroline Driver 5 years ago
I guess it's just an internet thing that these self absorbed, self entitled munchkins think so much of themselves because they have access to a computer and can get 'lots' of sychophantic other munchkins to worship the ground they walk on, that they think everybody else will feel the same. Talk about an echo chamber. Maybe there was a pre internet equivalent, but then they were just called scams and done with it.
Peter Smith 5 years ago
I have a suspicion that there is a marketing company offering these companies the contact by influencers, and advising on how to post a sarcastic response that will go viral. Considering that the viral response seems to offer free advertising for the restaurant/photographer etc.
Avital Pilpel 5 years ago
Hi bored panda. Pay me $500 and I will tell people in email you're a great site! (Signed) totally realistic and non-entitled person.
KarmaPeace 5 years ago
So bloody cheeky practically begging for free stuff. They have no morals at all
Ionescu Popa 5 years ago
Who compares a profiteer with a martyr also compares a satanist with a saint. This whole place is a murderous and corrupting lie.
Jessica Strickland 5 years ago (edited)
Personally, I avoid places that cater to "influencers". All having an influencer translates to is "their costs have been transferred to paying clients." But then, I try to avoid name brands for the same reason. Advertising costs are ultimately paid by the customers.
Phil Boswell 5 years ago
I'm a bit worried that some of the pictures don't make it clear whether they're stock photos or actually attached to the original post, there's some innocent models out there who might get attacked because of some of this rubbish :-(
Whatever... 5 years ago (edited)
Here's more reasons I dislike 'influencers ' and and YouTubers: Giving food, money, or a place to live, to the homeless... while recording it. One guy (recently) wanted to buy all of the bottled water in a store (prior to a hurricane warning) so he could record himself giving it away. The store manager refused. They don't do it out of compassion, but for views. Views = money.
EpicFangirl 5 years ago
lol i do commissions and i' so glad i've never seen anything like this or id go insane with laughter XD
Roxie Loden 5 years ago
mindboggling stuff - the sense of entitlement is ... actually - I am lost for words
Loki 5 years ago
half of them are rude too. One of the "influncers" i follow on instagram asked in the caption of her post "Any good albums come out recently?" and I commented "I've been streaming 'fandom' by waterparks! I recommend them!" (i've been listening to waterparks for like 6 years so-) and she responded said "it sucks sorry" and ????? i'm friends with the members and gonna see them for the 20th time but yknow 1 "influncer" is gonna change my 6 years of loving them lmao
Rebecca Gichuki 4 years ago
This entire post upsets me. I have to wonder at the maturity of some of these "managers" and "business owners." Customers are customers - whether they are asking for freebies or asking for cold soup to be warmed up. It doesn't matter. What matters in the end is the reputation of your business. You want to keep it up, keep your customers happy. Some of these responses are just out and out rude - not considering the fact that in 20-30 years, these "influencers" and their generation are going to be the main clientele. A pro-tip for every business owner... just be kind. Your business depends on it. That said, nobody should slam a business for not wanting to give freebies. Respect should be both ways.
Fred Burrows 5 years ago
I have 23 followers across social media but I influence thousands annually to never return to my posts again.
Tina Hugh 5 years ago (edited)
Step 1) Find some irritating women Step 2) Show them being ‘punished’ Step 3) Complain about them Step 4) Go to step 3 At least it’s better than the straight-up incel posts, but it’s still misogynistic when you focus on punishing harmless but annoying women and never criticize men for the c**p they do
Esley 5 years ago
I've not down voted before, but your post is so far reaching and makes no sense in connection to the article that I really felt it was necessary.
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Whatever... 5 years ago
Just last week I witnessed an 'influencer' get blasted at our favorite Italian restaurant. This place is always busy, packed with the line out the door. The girl in front of me wanted to speak to the owner (he's also the head chef). This guy is old-school Italian, and doesn't play around. She tells him she's an influencer, and wants a 'sample of everything ' . He directed her to the girl taking orders. No, she wanted it comped for a review. He yelled, "How's everyone enjoying your meals?" Cheers . "That's all the reviews I need". I thoroughly enjoyed watching her stand there looking like she got slapped in the face.
lemsip 3 years ago
Even the mommy bloggers who display stolen recipes on their blogs and are a type of influencer. They get paid a huge fortune to be sponsored by food companies and manufacturers of cleaning products. I thought they did it for fun and recognition. There was an Australian psycho thriller about a mommy blogger who was pregnant and engineered envy in a single woman who worked in the local supermarket. Called The Secret She Keeps. The supermarket employee admired her and put her on a pedestal. She should have hated her instead for her boring blog and ripping off food companies.
Load More Replies... Wil Vanderheijden 5 years ago
If you want to shame those parasites you shouldn't blur their names. They have made themsleves known as "Influenza" so let them face the consequences of their entitlement.
Leo Domitrix 5 years ago
"Influencer" = lazy narcissist using Photoshop-level filters. "Collaborate" = free load. No, they are not working "hard af" as one of those people said. Scroll through Insta in "lifestyle" and it's all a blur of "GIVE ME! Or else". When my toddler godson says that, he gets a time-out. So... *click* or *swipe* and on to actual web content like, y'know, cat pictures!
Kenny Kulbiski 5 years ago
I guess I lead a sheltered life. The only influencers I've ever run across have been on posts like this on Panda.
Dippin Dot 5 years ago
I don't even have an Instagram account to influence or be influenced.
Load More Replies... Jenica Thomas 5 years ago
As a graphic designer I get asked to do free or deeply discounted work regularly. If I won't do it for the average Joe, who doesn't make much money, I'm sure as hell not going to do it for someone who chooses not to work and is only exchanging services with a post (that might only be up for an hour or two??). My time, equipment and needs are too important to just give away free to just anyone who asks. That being said I won't get rude with someone who does ask. That's equally as wrong. But when someone simply tells you no, they can't, don't go into a tizzy because you think you are entitled. I assure you, you're not.
James Thompson 5 years ago
People seem to think that since art is a creative product, that they shouldn't have to pay for it. I do photography, and have done it professionally in the past and am familiar with what you describe.
Load More Replies... Cristina Steele 5 years ago
I’m sorry. I don’t get the “influencer” thing. Who exactly are these people? And who are they influencing? Why do they feel entitled to free goods & services? I noticed that most of the “influencers” got really nasty when businesses politely told them that they need to be paid for their time/products. Can there be that many entitled narcissistic a-holes out there? Haven’t these people ever heard the word NO before?
Mama Panda 5 years ago
Each and every post I wanted to comment "Wow...WTF?" I would have to type it out a lot so I decided to just say it here instead lol
Helena R 5 years ago
Surely these 'influencers' would have companies approaching them if they seriously had the power to bring in that many customers for the business?
lemsip 3 years ago
I thought that was the idea and probably was the case when instagram and the mommy blogs started. But there are too many influencers now and they are getting desperate.
Load More Replies... Human #1,232,867 5 years ago
People have way too much time to answer these jerks asking freebies. Just done' answer the email and move on. They don't deserve your time.
Mewton’s Third Paw 5 years ago
Yeah I don’t like influencers either but just “no thank you” works. People who write these long winded responses are just looking for exposure and aren’t different from the influencers. Everyone is lame in these situations
Load More Replies... Tinley's Aunt 5 years ago
We need to stop calling these people "influencers" and instead call them what they are. Scammers.
Leo Domitrix 5 years ago
Anyone else ever successfully pay a bill with "exposures" instead of dollars? Yeah, me, either.
Sadie Jayne 5 years ago
Is being an "influencer" some type of new mental illness? From what I could understand from this, is every single one of them are bat s**t crazy....
lemsip 3 years ago
Badmouthing companies who don't give into their demands for freebies and payments is certainly a mental illness. There's a term for that and it's 'protection racket'. Instead of the business owner having their windows smashed in they have their business badmouthed on Instagram and TikTok.
Load More Replies... deanna woods 5 years ago
Being an "influencer" on social media doesn't give you the right to demand free products and services from people and businesses. The fact that so many of these people think that just having followers on Instagram is enough to get free services is appalling. I am not on Instagram and even if I was I would not demand freebies in exchange for exposure. These people need to get a real job and stop their entitled whining.
Oskars Štāls 5 years ago
By reading the follower counts on the influencers profiles looks like I'm more of a influencer than they are
Nunya 5 years ago
There are so many REAL influencers (funny how spell-check says it's not a word...) on Youtube these days that these self-entitled fakes are not even a thing for me to consider. There are enough REAL influencers who show us how to file taxes, put on makeup, how to grow and care for various plants, how to assemble that piece of furniture you bought from IKEA, etc, etc, etc. There are people who give honest real-world reviews on products. These people are real "influencers". They give and give and eventually become popular enough to have a following, which they then get sponsors. People who actually WANT to advertise their products on their videos. So, when you want something for free, self-described influencers, please remember you have to earn things. America is a capitalist nation. In other words, it is a meritocracy.
lemsip 3 years ago
Their videos are usually monetized with advertising and they usually have qualifications or experience in what they demonstrate.
Load More Replies... Katinka Min 5 years ago
One again, I know why I also read bad reviews - often enough it's jsut somebody complaingin about something totally stupid. The visciousness in some posts is a bit shocking. I do think some of the asked peeps are overreacting, though. Just say No. No need to write half a page of indignant insults and call people Brats. But trying to destroy a business just because they don't give you freebies shoudl actually lead to a lawsuit.
James Thompson 5 years ago
They probably get tired of it and snap, like most people Would after a while.
Load More Replies... Christine M Quigley 5 years ago
I cannot believe how many spelling errors, and grammatical errors there are in this post...Did any of these people pay attention in school? And how many lazy, self-entitled people there are...Unbelievable..
Steve Barnett 5 years ago
Every time I say the word ‘influencer’ it always comes out as ‘influenza’; considering influenza’s an unwanted virus that plagues people, perhaps I’m saying it right?
George Digamma 5 years ago
I guess that, like in many other situations, this market, because it is a market whether we like it or not, will clear itself in a few years. The many will vanish and the few, more professionals in a good meaning, will continue.
Carson Skjerdal 5 years ago
Yep couldn't say it better. There is a market for influencers. This list is just the equivalent of basement bands wanting to get booked but only havin 2 fans
Load More Replies... Andrea Bell 4 years ago
This generation has ruined media for those of us who actually ARE proper journalists and photographers and editors etc. It's such a gong show out there now it's not even very interesting anymore to be part of a legit magazine. But to be fair, they can't get jobs because my parents generation ruined everything... so...
Living_Shadow 4 years ago (edited)
I'm an artist on Instagram and I'm pretty small rn, so no influencers have asked me for stuff like this yet. But I do follow a lot of other, bigger, artists and I hear about these kinds of things all the time. It's really annoying because people don't take artists, musicians, designers, and other related businesses seriously enough. There's this whole stigma that they're not "real" professions and it makes me really angry. People work hard to achieve their skill.
Melissa Cavanaugh 4 years ago
People who can't even influence their own spelling and grammar are automatically worthless on social media.
Freya the Wanderer 4 years ago
It's wonderful to see so-called influences get owned! They are lazy bums who want to get their money for nothing and their chicks (or dudes) for free. I suspect a lot of these "influencers" are liars, claiming to be influencers in hopes of getting free stuff. You want stuff, do some honest work and earn money to spend.
Redfox 5 years ago
My friend worked at the tulip festival recently. SOooooo many influencers were taking glamour photos inside the fields of colourful tulips. He was telling me all about it. So I went one day to see the flowers etc. Bunch of certain nationality were in the field. Having clearly been told by the staff (and my friend who was staff that day too) to get out. It is clearly marked to not enter the fields. Staff left, in their high viz jackets. Influencers mutter and giggle and climb right on back in. I turn and say, "Are you totally deaf? GET out of the field before I call the police." HUGE bright red faces. One pretends not to speak English. I say, "I lip read, coz I am partially deaf, I know you speak English, stop acting dumb." All get out of the field looking positively chastised. I explain to them the flowers only last a very short time, and once damaged by all the photographing influencers they are no longer! Bright red faces, lots of sorry sorry. I stood there and waited. They left.
Edo Alva 5 years ago
Influencer my a*s.. Don't get me wrong, I know there's bunch of actual influencers who act just like a good infuencer supposed to be. But these people, are incredibly disgusting human beings with no humility and humble traits whatsoever. What I'm saying, it's a shame that the terms of 'influencer' now becomes something that sounds toxic.
Teresa Taylor 5 years ago
Rule number one: If you need to go around calling yourself "an influencer," you're not. Rule number two: if you have to ASK for free stuff to promote to your social media followers, you are not "an influencer." Rule number three: if you don't understand rule number two, see rule number one.
Mikey 5 years ago
In the mid-2000s, in my early 20s, I started a food blog for fun. "Influencers" weren't a thing then, so when businesses started reaching out to me for exposure in exchange for meals I was ecstatic! You want to give me food and I just have to write about it?! Unreal in my mind. I think where influencer culture and I split was in how I viewed the site. I was just doing it for me. If I had modest success with it, hooray, but I'd never ask a business for free anything. I wrote plenty of articles where I paid for the food gladly. I was the one wanting to write about it, no one asked me to, so why should I expect anything in return?
Avital Pilpel 5 years ago
The all-important difference is that THEY asked YOU to write for them for a free meal. No reason to turn down a freebie someone offered you.
Load More Replies... OffKeySinger 5 years ago
Normally I click to see all the images. Couldn't do it this time. Influencers are brats that received too many participation ribbons in their childhood
Tiny Dynamine 5 years ago
Do you ever get the feeling that society is descending into hell? Hopefully, all these twats will get publicly shamed and crash horribly and then this whole idea will be dead by next year.
Tina Hugh 5 years ago
Did your comment arrest this ‘descent into hell’ or accelerate it? Also, drama much?
Load More Replies... Dian Parama Kosala 5 years ago
we need to expose their act and their influencer social media so people know how cheap they are..
Daniel Lee 5 years ago
Bloggers and vloggers are just lazy a*s idiots looking for easy monsy and free stuff. Fuxking pests....
Jasmine Walker 5 years ago
I have to know, does asking for free service in exchange for social media posts REALLY work for someone other than famous folks? I mean I would think if you are famous, clients would come to you-especially of you have 1.5mil followers.
YupItsMe1234 5 years ago
Can anybody imagine where we would be if myspace/facebook which led to this obsession with likes and followers on all platforms was never invented? I bet we would be partying on Mars right now...although I guess it wouldn't matter because we wouldn't make our Earth people jealous with pictures haha
Thunder 5 years ago
Well it is funny but I’m too lazy to read this all. That’s my own problem 🤣
Irma 1 year ago
I am a local guide on google. I paid for food the service and food was lovely. So i posted a good review and than was that. They knew i was a local guide and did check in on me but i wanted to pay like a decent human being and they asked me nicely how my evening was like a decent human being. I work my butt of a*s a chef and im nit doing it for 'exposure' i want to have enough money to live of off. Like they do
ELLIS CANNON 3 years ago
Whoever wrote this post: no-one deserves public shaming. it can ruin lives and drive people to suicide
David Johnson 4 years ago
This seems to be a difference in generational thought. I own a restaurant in Ecuador. Among other things we have vegan and vegetarian option. In our marketing plan, we have included inviting vegan and vegetarian "influencers" to our restaurant to try our vegan and vegetarian meals. We intend on giving them their meals for free because we understand that the people that follow them like them and trust them. We also understand that the most important aspect of any relationship is trust. We do not feel that we can establish the same level of trust that the "influencers" can. I have used influencers in other business endeavors with great success. We have gotten a ton of exposure for very little money which has translated into business. Like anything marketing related, you have to be selective about the influencers you use and make sure they are "targeting" your audience. In our minds, it isn't any different than bartering with the local media.
Bianca Du Toit 4 years ago
What in the everloving f**k... This is what I hate about this era we're living in.
Livio Siano 5 years ago
There are only a few "real" influencers in the world: Madonna, Kim Kardashian and Chiara Ferragni.
anotherboredpanda 5 years ago
I don't get it. Don't they make money with views of their postings? I've watched a video recently about Youtubers. It seems they make a lot of money just by people watching their videos. And then to have the audacity to ask for free stuff is beyond me.
Caroline Driver 5 years ago
I guess it's just an internet thing that these self absorbed, self entitled munchkins think so much of themselves because they have access to a computer and can get 'lots' of sychophantic other munchkins to worship the ground they walk on, that they think everybody else will feel the same. Talk about an echo chamber. Maybe there was a pre internet equivalent, but then they were just called scams and done with it.
Peter Smith 5 years ago
I have a suspicion that there is a marketing company offering these companies the contact by influencers, and advising on how to post a sarcastic response that will go viral. Considering that the viral response seems to offer free advertising for the restaurant/photographer etc.
Avital Pilpel 5 years ago
Hi bored panda. Pay me $500 and I will tell people in email you're a great site! (Signed) totally realistic and non-entitled person.
KarmaPeace 5 years ago
So bloody cheeky practically begging for free stuff. They have no morals at all
Ionescu Popa 5 years ago
Who compares a profiteer with a martyr also compares a satanist with a saint. This whole place is a murderous and corrupting lie.
Jessica Strickland 5 years ago (edited)
Personally, I avoid places that cater to "influencers". All having an influencer translates to is "their costs have been transferred to paying clients." But then, I try to avoid name brands for the same reason. Advertising costs are ultimately paid by the customers.
Phil Boswell 5 years ago
I'm a bit worried that some of the pictures don't make it clear whether they're stock photos or actually attached to the original post, there's some innocent models out there who might get attacked because of some of this rubbish :-(
Whatever... 5 years ago (edited)
Here's more reasons I dislike 'influencers ' and and YouTubers: Giving food, money, or a place to live, to the homeless... while recording it. One guy (recently) wanted to buy all of the bottled water in a store (prior to a hurricane warning) so he could record himself giving it away. The store manager refused. They don't do it out of compassion, but for views. Views = money.
EpicFangirl 5 years ago
lol i do commissions and i' so glad i've never seen anything like this or id go insane with laughter XD
Roxie Loden 5 years ago
mindboggling stuff - the sense of entitlement is ... actually - I am lost for words
Loki 5 years ago
half of them are rude too. One of the "influncers" i follow on instagram asked in the caption of her post "Any good albums come out recently?" and I commented "I've been streaming 'fandom' by waterparks! I recommend them!" (i've been listening to waterparks for like 6 years so-) and she responded said "it sucks sorry" and ????? i'm friends with the members and gonna see them for the 20th time but yknow 1 "influncer" is gonna change my 6 years of loving them lmao
Rebecca Gichuki 4 years ago
This entire post upsets me. I have to wonder at the maturity of some of these "managers" and "business owners." Customers are customers - whether they are asking for freebies or asking for cold soup to be warmed up. It doesn't matter. What matters in the end is the reputation of your business. You want to keep it up, keep your customers happy. Some of these responses are just out and out rude - not considering the fact that in 20-30 years, these "influencers" and their generation are going to be the main clientele. A pro-tip for every business owner... just be kind. Your business depends on it. That said, nobody should slam a business for not wanting to give freebies. Respect should be both ways.
Fred Burrows 5 years ago
I have 23 followers across social media but I influence thousands annually to never return to my posts again.
Tina Hugh 5 years ago (edited)
Step 1) Find some irritating women Step 2) Show them being ‘punished’ Step 3) Complain about them Step 4) Go to step 3 At least it’s better than the straight-up incel posts, but it’s still misogynistic when you focus on punishing harmless but annoying women and never criticize men for the c**p they do
Esley 5 years ago
I've not down voted before, but your post is so far reaching and makes no sense in connection to the article that I really felt it was necessary.
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