Critical Strategies & Teaching Of Social Influencers & Media

[Lilia_24U]

Hello everyone!

This is the right place where we have a critical conversation about influencers selling services without having a profession in all kind of areas { in example health, wellness, business, fitness, life, mental health etc.}, teaching spiritual ignorant, unhealthy and unrealistic beliefs, treating mental illnesses and mental health not as serious as they should be and so on. This is a general critical thread about how social media and influencers treat all kind of topics the wrong way.

[aquabeb]

Hey, thanks for creating this thread! I came here from the Raw Alignment thread, after I've been keeping an eye on her for the last few years and following her changes and (imo) exploitation of spirituality + mental and emotional wellness talk to make serious money.

I read this article on Audrey Kitching the other day, and I feel like there are some similarities between her and Alyse. The unnerving thing with these influencers is that you can almost be taken in by the things they say. It's almost like they use all the right language or ideas that appeal to their audience (mostly younger women). I also think a lot of the things Alyse talks about aren't bad - in terms of listening to your desires, affirming yourself etc. But it's the way these topics are used to make profit that irks me, as well as the really individualising notions behind them (e.g. with visualisation/manifestation, it's often spoken about as if you are the only one blocking your path to 'success', and if only you could tap into these tools you could live your 'dream life' - as if there might not be structural or systemic issues like intergenerational poverty that literally mean you cannot).

Here is the article if anyone wants to read it: https://www.dailydot.com/irl/audrey-kitching-fraud/

[Lilia_24U]

You are welcome! I thought a place is needed where we not focus on what one person does, but having a conversation about some issues and concerning movements in general. So thank you for being a part of the discussion, I hope others will join!

Here is the article if anyone wants to read it: https://www.dailydot.com/irl/audrey-kitching-fraud/

I have read the entire article, so thank you. Never ever heard about Audrey, but her choice of words are so similar to any kind of spiritual life coach/influencer/service out there. They definitely know what to say in order to promote their work & products to an audience. I want to discuss so much, but currently not feeling well and just scribbling notes on paper so I can address all kind of issues I have later on.

But one thing I wonder is why people loose faith in professionals like therapist, doctors etc and would more likely seek help from an influencer they have NEVER seen, barely know about {they could say and portray everything and anything about themselves} etc. What makes people buy into online services & products targeting healing, self-improvment, diet, fitness & wellness advice, "super" products, coaching and so on? Why do they prefer someone presenting an online appearance and buying into them without proper creditability and professions? Do you have an idea, an assumption, a theory?

Before I write and discuss a lot about it, I want to openly ask why in your opinion - and anyone who is willing to engage in the conversation - this is selling instead of help & support out of an online community and in real life {therapy etc.}?

[aquabeb]

It's a good question, and something I've been thinking about a lot - both in general and in relation to my own life and motivations.

I think there are a lot of valid reasons as to why people turn away from the medical system. Depending on where you are, the cost of healthcare can be incredibly prohibitive. Even where I am (Australia), where there is free healthcare available, to get the best or timely treatment you really need to go private. Healthcare systems are also incredibly discriminatory - I'm thinking particularly in relation to race (e.g. in Australia, Aboriginal patients are often dismissed/turned away from hospitals because of assumptions made about them due to their race - https://www.sbs.com.au/topics/life/heal ... ood-health), weight (https://www.self.com/story/weight-bias-and-health-care), and gender (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyl ... women-pain), but I'm sure there are a tonne of other systemic issues I've neglected to mention. There's also the issue of under-resourcing of healthcare facilities/over-working of staff, which can lead to poor patient care or a lack of empathy for patients, particularly those perceived as 'time-wasters'. All of these things can lead to patients feeling uncared for, invalidated, not believed, or belittled, as well as leaving without their health needs being addressed.

I think there's also this desire to believe that the body is all knowing - like it can feel very freeing in think that if you just master your mind/energy you can tap into the intrinsic knowledge of your body and be free from illness and pain, without any need to rely on anyone (including medical systems!). I think there are also links to control - the idea that our body/mind is something that can be reigned in and mastered if only you have perfect control over your diet, surroundings, thoughts, 'energy' etc. It can be a very perfectionistic mindset - you have to get everything right, in alignment, or you will fail. It also might feel soothing to think that you can have that much control over yourself and the outcomes of your life, particularly given how uncontrollable, ever-changing and frightening the world is/can be.

For me, the times where I've turned towards influencers/online 'experts' is when I've felt let down by the medical system, or when I've been overwhelmed by my physical and mental symptoms and desperate for answers but without the time/money/knowledge to go to professionals. Like I fell into the Raw till 4 thing pretty hard because it was alluring! Like, I can change my diet and not only will I be hot (read: skinny), all my gut, skin, and energy issues will disappear! I should note this was also after I'd been having digestive issues for a lot of my teen + adult life (as well as a bunch of disordered eating habits + mad anxiety - definitely think all of that is linked too btw). I'd seen dietitians, specialists, and even had surgery - all of which left me with no answers or solutions. Needless to say Raw till 4 didn't help me either and in fact hurt me quite a bit - but I've recovered a lot since then!

I also find it interesting to think about the links between natural food/health movements and things like fascism or puritan political or religious movements. There's a lot to dig into there, and I need to do more reading on it, but I found this article interesting in terms of thinking about a broader cultural and historical context to current-day trends: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-09-14/ ... m/10236768

Would love to hear your thoughts/theories! And hope you feel better!