The Positive Power of Social Media Influencers in 2020
Photo by CoWomen on Unsplash

Thanks to social media, mobile viewing is now outpacing cable television as a primary source of entertainment. And for good reason. With apps like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram providing a platform for anyone to become an online celebrity, viewers have a significantly greater number of niche channels and personalities to choose from than any cable provider. But the benefits of these social platforms extend well beyond mere entertainment. Many online celebrities are using their social influence to create positive changes in their communities and around the world.

Here are five people who are using their viral status for the greater good.

Toba Courage a.k.a. “The Hack”

Toba Courage is a YouTube celebrity who takes penny-pinching to extreme levels with daily “no money” challenges in big cities like London and Stockholm. Relying only on the kindness of strangers, local food banks, promotions and street smarts, Toba shows viewers how to “hack” the system and scrape up enough food to get through the day.

Although Toba probably does well enough to stay off the streets personally, he does an exceptional job highlighting many of the existing programs and companies who look after the community and the destitute situation that millions of people find themselves in every day.

Jimmy Donaldson a.k.a. “Mr. Beast”

Jimmy Donaldson became a household name in 2017 when his YouTube Channel “Mr. Beast” went viral after counting to one hundred thousand live for 44 hours! As Jimmy’s channel continued to grow, he began receiving offers for sponsorship and utilized those sponsors as a way to give back to the local community and the environment.

In his most ambitious stunt, Mr. Beast attempted to plant 20 Million trees before 2020 as a way to celebrate reaching 20 Million subscribers. With a huge amount of effort the 20 Million tree goal was eventually reached, thanks to the global community and famous contributors like Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Salesforce CEO Mark Benihoff, and Shopify CEO Tobi Lutke.

Lauren Singers

Lauren Singer might not be making as big of a splash on social media as Mr. Beast, but it’s likely because she’s trying to conserve the water. Lauren is a living example of how much we can reduce waste by making conscious decisions in our daily lives.

For the past eight years, Lauren has managed to consolidate her garbage enough to fit inside a tiny 16oz mason jar. This was achieved though everyday practices like composting, recycling, and repurposing materials. She continues to provide information, tips and advice on waste reduction and environmentally friendly practices through her daily Instagram posts.

Mark Rober

Mark Rober is one of those YouTubers you can’t help but love. This DIY dad with a childlike curiosity and mechanical engineering degree takes science projects to a new extreme and sets world records along the way. Mark’s first YouTube video went viral back in 2011, when he crafted a Halloween costume using two i-Pads to give the illusion of a hole in his chest.

The best part about Mark’s channel, however, is that he educates his audience throughout his progress. Whether the topic involves physics, chemistry, or engineering, viewers will always find his content just as informative as it is entertaining.

Florence Simpson

Florence Simpson is the Tik Tok poster girl for body positivity. Florence’s posts often focus on spreading good vibes across her followers, and with over 600,000 of them, that’s a lot of love! Instead of intense dieting or shying away from good foods, Florence shows her viewers that they can be happy and healthy without drastically altering their lifestyle.

Apart from quick cooking tips and daily affirmations, Florence also takes her viewers along with her during daily routines like haircuts, shopping, and more. This transparency allows her followers to feel as though they are experiencing her positive lifestyle firsthand and can live the same way regardless of shape or size.

The Influencer Starter Kit

Becoming a social media influencer is 90% genuine personality. The remaining 10% is whatever’s being used to capture that personality for the world to see. Many influencers often start off with basic necessities and eventually work their way toward the equipment that’s best suited for them, whether it’s traveling, extreme sports, or recoding from the comfort of their own home. That being said, there is no right answer for what gear works best, but here are some recommendations:

Cameras/Webcams

Samsung Galaxy Note 10 — An all-in-one device for everyday high-end photo and video.

Logitech C920 PRO Webcam — For those who find themselves often vlogging directly from their computers.

Canon EOS M50- A superb143-point autofocus camera with facial detection and auto tracking.

GoPro Hero 8 Black — The ultimate customizable action camera for vloggers often finding themselves in extreme situations.

Accessories

Software

Snapseed — Google’s free photo editing app with intuitive UI

Windows Movie Maker 10— The best free software to use for video editing with new time lapse features.

Adobe Premiere Pro — The ultimate editing software used by amateurs and professionals alike.

Conclusion

Social media has evolved to the point where online celebrities are almost on par with their box-office counterparts. The ubiquitous nature of apps like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram are enabling everyday people to create changes and raise awareness in their industry, community, and environment that previously would have been impossible. Those who are looking to make a similar impact should take a page out of these influencer’s books and do it from the heart.
['Dustin Craft']
['Instagram', 'YouTube', 'Influencer Marketing', 'Social Media', 'Tiktok App']