influencers

A sleek smartphone with a dual-lens rear camera and a display featuring abstract colorful shapes. The phone has a metallic finish and is set against a background of black hexagonal shapes. The Google logo is visible on the back of the device.

The ‘Team Pixel’ Drama Exposed a Disconnect Between Creators and Brands

Last week, Google updated its agreement with "Team Pixel" members to stipulate that they weren't allowed to support any other smartphone brand or else risk ejection from the platform. Because many in that program considered themselves reviewers, it exposed a major disconnect between how many perceived themselves versus how Google perceived them.

Social Media Influencer Woes

I had read this story about a social media influencer who posted professional photos of her accident on Instagram along with what appeared to be a product placement. I thought it unbelievable until... it happened to me.

Instagrammers are Getting Sick After Posing in Toxic Turquoise Lake

It's been less than two weeks since we reported on the toxic lake in Siberia that has become a popular photo location for Instagrammers. Now, another bright turquoise lake, this time in Spain, is attracting would-be influencers. Except this one is so toxic it's actually making people very sick.

This Famed LA Ice Cream Truck Has Started Charging ‘Influencers’ Double

The Instagram "influencer" problem is only getting worse. Two days ago, we shared an email exchange between a pair of wedding photographers who ran afoul of an influencer who wanted a free wedding photography package. Now, a famous LA Ice Cream truck has gotten so fed up, the owner has officially started charging so-called influencers double when they ask for free stuff.

Instagram’s Facade of the Perfect Life Has Made Us Lose Our Empathy

Last week, it was reported that 3 Canadian YouTube vloggers had died while swimming at the top of Shannon Falls in Squamish, British Columbia. The trio were part of content creation channel High On Life, which has a current following of 560,000 subscribers, and a further 1.1 million followers on Instagram. As the tragic news broke, so did the influx of comments across news sites and social media.