The Most Out Of Touch 2024 Influencer Trends

[@StateofKait]

Huge thanks to Factor for sponsoring today's video! You can use code KAIT50 to get 50% off your first box plus 20% off your next month at bit.ly/4dqHGZt. To put my money where my mouth is: I got this month's Factor box for free, but I love it so much that I'm a paying customer with an active subscription.

[@ShannonFord]

I love Factor. I’ve been getting them for almost 3 years. I am celiac and they are gluten free which many are not.

[@StateofKait]

@@ShannonFord it’s been genuinely life changing for us!

[@catherinelynnfraser2001]

I under consume. I buy too much and use too little. I think the definitions and terms are too blurry. It’s noisy out there ❤

[@carrained]

They were life changing for us as well but too expensive to keep up with after our offer ended so if you ever get a code for a returning costumer, I'd love that 😅 I told my fiancé we needed something like Factor because of my chronic pain and his ADHD (not the overactive kind..) and when I saw they had come to our country I was SO happy, and the meals really taste good aaand kind of re-taught me what portions sized I should be having now that I'm not able to move much 😅

[@HanneloreLoreAuroraClaes]

I’ve been wanting to try Factor for a while now but sadly I can’t use the code as I live in Belgium

[@sophia-O]

I'm a registered nurse who works 12hr shifts in a trauma ICU. TRY doing what I do for a day Mikayla. I have zero sympathy for these people.

[@StateofKait]

Thank you for your service 🩵

[@conniescrustycharredcooter2476]

None of them could hold a candle to you. I'm a tech in a hospital lab, so my hat is off to you

[@dear_totheheart]

I took my dog to an emergency room once and I was mortified and started crying, I cannot even fathom your resolve and tenacity and how fortunate we are to have people with hearts, skill, and passion like you - you all are such heroes and I wish our society acknowledged and rewarded such contribution instead of our apparent obsession with vapid, insincere hollowness

[@orchids4256]

​@@conniescrustycharredcooter2476respect to a fellow med tech! The hidden hero of the healthcare team.

[@lynngouveia3508]

I couldn’t agree with you more 👍👍!! I consider myself to be an overall positive and kind person, but the ONLY time I can feel my BP becoming elevated from the mere mention of the name “Mikayla” does just that 😤🤯😡!! And to compound matters is that these brands gladly & STUPIDLY fork tons of money into her bank account 🤦‍♀️😩!! I won’t give up any more of my valuable time than I already have on this selfish, greedy,incompetent, inconsiderate, elitist, self indulgent and disingenuous P.O.S. little girl 😠!! And @sophia-O thank you so very much , and our nurses everywhere for all that you do for ALL of us 🙏💪🫶!! Your integrity and compassion is truly appreciated and admired 😊⭐️👏!!

[@dmc12397]

I’m a flight attendant and I sometimes work 14 hour days and only get paid for 6 of those hours. But yes opening packages is brutal.

[@erinlayke]

Wait what? That’s criminal! Why are they sometimes only paying you for 6 of those hours?

[@dominikar4969]

@@erinlaykeIf they’re working for a budget airline in Europe, these are known to not count delays as work, so if you’re stuck for 8 hours just waiting for your flight to take off, your employer argues that you’re not working. Which is stupid and borderline illegal, because you have to spend the delay time prepared to start any second.

[@dmc12397]

@@dominikar4969 this! I work in Canada for a definitely non budget airline. But unfortunately it’s very common. We usually don’t get paid if the doors are open and that’s a majority of the time we are working sometimes. Yesterday I had to take two separate, mandatory flights just to get to work for one flight and I only got paid for 2 hours of those when each flight was about 3 hours long.

[@mingiinimene3335]

@@dominikar4969 it should be illegal no borderline about it.

[@Pamela-B]

But how many days a month do you work? Hmmm?? My sister in law is a flight attendant and she works 10 days a month.

[@kimw3784]

"Why are you yelling at me?" 😂 100% it's so offputting

[@heatherLcharron]

@kimw3784 Cassandra bankson is so cringey. No, I am not "YOUR beautiful butterfly" and please stop stressing me out with your chaotic energy.

[@EmiStar070]

It's like walking into a casino, it's so overwhelming

[@SyKnife]

I’m a boomer, living on a low income in a high rent state. I keep wondering what everyone is talking about when they say “this economy is terrible”. There’s so little unemployment rn and wages have gone up (the minimum wage had been the same for over a decade). I worked my bum off at jobs before sexual harassment was even a concept. Housing prices are way too high, yes. But there’s no 20% inflation. It’s just weird to have experienced times where you had to sit in lines for hours to even get gas (1970’s) and there really was super high inflation. This seems like good times to me.

[@RykerJones28]

​@SyKnife girl what are you talking about?

[@bmet102]

Exactly what I was thinking when I saw the orange blush person. Yelling over their poor audio music. So stressful Oh my god I just got to 26 minutes. My ears!!!

[@christiecruzxo2841]

When most of us are struggling to choose between paying our rent/mortgage or buying groceries these influencers are such a turn off. Especially with all the disasters going on in this country…the hurricanes the homelessness epidemic etc. The last thing I care about is watching Mikayla review another new Chanel bag. Life does feel heavy, you nailed it. Thanks for handling this in an honest and compassionate way.

[@StateofKait]

Part of the reason I've been shifting away from beauty reviews!

[@christiecruzxo2841]

@@StateofKait these new videos are immaculate! I’m sure it wasn’t easy to change lanes but I’m so glad you’ve decided to make some commentary content. Your thoughts are always well researched and presented in thoughtful way. You have alot to add to the conversation that other commentary channels don’t. You do it in a way that doesn’t feel “dramaish” but more analytical. Can’t wait to see more, I hope the algorithm is being good to you, you deserve it 🫶

[@StateofKait]

@@christiecruzxo2841 thank you, that means a lot! It’s tough because anytime you try something new, you’re going to be bad at it for a while, and being bad in a public setting where people are extremely critical is embarrassing. But I’m having fun and feeling challenged! I’m trying to add my own perspective on these topics, but it’ll take me a while to find my voice and improve my writing and delivery skills.

[@AnnAndNala]

100%

[@barbarawright9123]

Yes! A Chanel bag that low-class vulgar Mikayla got for free.

[@stephenelizaga7699]

I think growing up without social media was such a blessing - to develop your own sense of self organically and based on real life experiences. Feel that social media has made people more insecure and more materialistic.

[@nickimontie]

Makes me even more grateful that I've never been on TikTok.

[@kaitlyng7850]

Yep. Never got addicted to it. I don’t even think I’ve spent more than 10 hours on it tbh and now I deleted it bc it was taking up too much space on my phone

[@TischTosh]

Same never been there. Instagram is the new 'clock app' and I had to put that away. I won't look at shorts anymore on YT either because it's a giant time suck.

[@palemeadows]

@@kaitlyng7850i wont bc i love seeing edits of my fave shows + uni students lol

[@libbylikewhoa]

This made me laugh, amen 😂👏

[@ChristinePacinda]

Same. I've never understood the addiction.

[@raluci]

LOL, the Tik tok live sales remind me of the teleshopping back in the day 😂😂😂

[@obnoxiouspurring]

Yes this exactly. My mum still watches some of the shopping channels for the novelty value. I think its like reality tv for her, she finds it funny. I find it repulsive.

[@sunflowerhillhomesteadaust7887]

'But wait! There's more!! Free steak knives!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@eriwantie]

OMG it's literally that 😂😂

[@wandby7090]

teleshopping was at least pleasant to look at.. not just bombarded with screams. same thought about ads now, tv ads were more pleasant than the sponsorships or regular yt ads.. and more creative too, but there're some channels who do it nicely, yet the most just do not care.. somehow miss the tv era..

[@Melinda-f3l]

This!!!

[@sher3196]

I've quit buying tarte because of their ridiculous trips. It doesn't matter to them, but it matters to me.

[@AnnAndNala]

I agree, it's such a turn-off even with the brands. It's too much, too overwhelming, and way out-of-touch.

[@drina4706]

I shall do the same.

[@tomfondly5266]

That along with how they've treated POC and the green washing is why I don't buy Tarte anymore.

[@awalker127]

Agreed

[@YounhaMizuki]

Exactly and more when they don't invest in their brand.

[@literallyheather]

I think these influencers are just begging for an IRS audit. 💰

[@kls6612]

😂😂😂😂

[@christiecruzxo2841]

@@literallyheather that part ✨ let’s not forget all the PPP loan fraud like 80% of them committed back in the pandemic

[@kimberlywelch4198]

What a slap in their faces if they actually paid tax on all that free stuff, trips, etc. It's quite criminal.

[@dear_totheheart]

@@kimberlywelch4198 No, they'll use it as a business right off Dx

[@Trish.Norman]

Lmao. Absolutely!!!

[@stephaniecruz3164]

Also, influencers may work the same number of hours as the rest of us, but they get paid at least 4-5x as much (at a minimum) as we do, so actually they get paid more for their time compared to the rest of us.

[@StateofKait]

100%

[@dallynutkat3252]

Plus no commute, no pressure / stress (I don't care what they say, you cannot compare their "job stress" with someone who actually works in retail, healthcare, construction etc.) Also, if they mess up or have a bad day, no one dies and you don't lose your job! The only thing they really have to worry about is if they fall out of public grace and lose their cushy income streams. In other words, they pray they will stay in the popular clique 🙄 just like highschool. No one should be comparing these sales reps (that's really what they are, right?) to a real worker. Also, they are so unoriginal. They are basically all the same person. I don't know why anyone would listen to what they say 😮. Apart from anything, they are so boring. How dare these people complain about anything?! They're lucky the public hadn't thrown them all on a desert island to fight it out for The Biggest Fool.

[@sarahjames927]

This is also where parenting comes in. Parents need to set boundaries allow for growth but in a safe environment. You can’t control everything but you can parent your kid to be discerning about these influencers.

[@tamaradaniel9294]

I’m so glad someone said this. I 100% agree with this. Kids are so spoiled these days!! Parents need to teach their kids to be humble and appreciate what they have.

[@krista436]

Seeing people go on trips and vacations like once or twice a month (or more) is just so irritating. Even if a person can afford a yearly vacation, in the US it’s unrealistic that most people have jobs that would allow for this.

[@AnnAndNala]

I totally agree.

[@moremiaj4786]

Honestly I always wonder who can afford such lavish vacations. I thought I was the only one not taking these lavish vacations. Like who spends $50,000 on a two day vacation and what job are people doing whereby they can afford such a vacations multiple times a year?

[@thatElene]

I'm 32 and never been on a vacation 😭

[@justsummers1559]

​@thatElene no what pls go to an air bnb nearby at least!!

[@Gina-Montana]

I think not just influencers, but people in general have lost their minds! My daughter told me that her friend who is getting married has scheduled a WEEK LONG bachelorette getaway. Friend is mad because my daughter can’t take off work or miss school working on her masters for that. What happened to a one night celebration? I would even let a weekend slide, but an entire week is absurd.

[@NattyIce94]

This is so needed. With everything going on, I'm adopting a minimalist approach to clothes, skincare, makeup, everything. Even home decor/furniture. We just cant keep up! The pressure to decorate our new home when we have little money and one of us is in school is just so unrealistic. Time to normalize the 90s when people had hand-me-down couches, grandmas dining table, mismatched dinnerware, etc. think Malcolm in the Middle or Gilmore Girls vibes. There is nothing wrong with that and honestly, most of us are there, not the catalog picture perfect HGTV homes. We're all doing the best we can and we can't all be the McGees or the Gaines! One step at a time. Quality > quantity. Contentment > envy ❤☺️

[@2863wonderland]

Yes 🙌🏻

[@bethong910]

This! 🙌🏼

[@animula6908]

I feel lucky to have grandmas who give me furniture and dishes. I resent anyone trying to make me feel ashamed about it tbh.

[@asarishepard8171]

Exactly us normies dont want to rehaul decorate our place, we tend to find what we like and keep it. At the most i may change out a framed picture. But couch, side tables, etc, no!

[@KS-wr4vv]

The reality is with all this over consumption I can decorate my house with Facebook marketplace and goodwill while still having top notch items bc everyone gets rid of such great things to buy more. I’m in the process of decluttering and I refuse to go out and buy more stuff. I’m either going to rework what I have or buy. Second hand things that help me organize. Less really is more at least for my brain.

[@rosemoss9380]

As a Gen Xer, I’m glad I didn’t grow up with social media. We had other pressures, and I’m glad my parents put their foot down on consumerism while emphasizing the fulfillment in helping others. We had one tv with limited tv time. Even when my parents started to make a little more money while I was in high school, I had to buy my own makeup and was allowed a limited number of pants and shirts. I had four pairs of pants, except in winter a pair of corduroy jeans were added. I am now a nurse who volunteers once a week at a food pantry. I’m quite happy. Your fulfillment isn’t staring back at the screen, it’s out there. Trust me, but more importantly, trust yourself to get past the fear and anxiety to find just how fricking strong, beautiful and amazing you truly are.

[@lesann620]

Yesssss elder millennial and similar experience here. My parents were pretty low income so I got a job at 14 so I could save for a car and buy clothes that weren’t hand-me-downs.

[@wearelegion1163]

I stopped watching most all "beauty" influencers when they made giant hauls for views, used the products for views, then return the used products to the stores for refunds. That's literally stealing. The companies can't resell used beauty & personal care products. It's infuriating & makes everything more costly for all of us. Also, can't stand to see so much waste. Disgusting.

[@StateofKait]

Yes! That’s why when I do my deep dives, I always sell products at a discount or give away the ones I received in PR. It’s disgusting how influencers buy products just to try them and return them.

[@dwsel]

When people are returning products on mass scale companies have to increase prices to cover for their losses caused by this model of functioning. Just saying.

[@tomfondly5266]

I think it's just as bad to horde insane amounts of makeup that no one person can ever use up no matter how much make up you wear only to declutter it years later. Mindless consumerism is just so wasteful. I missed the good ole days of makeup tutorials where the emphasis was on technique and application and not the product itself.

[@wearelegion1163]

@@tomfondly5266 Exactly! Hoarding (aka collecting) Eyeshadow palettes makes me crazy. Like WTF? No one can use that much eyeshadow in 1,000 lifetimes yet they continue buying more. So much waste.

[@TheSim1derful]

Kait you're really slaying with these vids - you somehow manage to be fairly analytical and objective while still taking clear moral stances, and I find your evaluation of these current social issues are way more thoughtful and engaging than many other "commentary" KZbinrs I've seen!

[@StateofKait]

@@TheSim1derful you made my day, thank you! It’s scary to try new things in a public space where people are judgmental, but I’m excited to improve my skills over time.

[@SapphireandFadedJeans]

Agree! She deserves a much bigger following for her transparency and intellect.

[@TheSim1derful]

@@SapphireandFadedJeans 100%! She's doing well on KZbin but I really hope these videos make her blow up. She deserves it!!

[@Nyctm91]

I really appreciate and respect you. I’ve been a makeup artist for 14 years and all people care about these days are influencers who secretly spend 2-3 hours on their makeup and act like that’s just a normal look lol. Nobody has that much time, professionally on set or a person doing their own makeup day to day

[@PARAZARELLE]

They all seem so fake to me. I follow content creators, influencers annoy me. All their reactions are so over exaggerated, they don't feel genuine to me. I've recently discovered JOMO, also I'm an adult so not that easily influenced.

[@moremiaj4786]

The one reaction influencers have that annoys me is the " oh I am obsessed" and then the next day its another item to replace the one they were obsessed over yesterday..

[@jennifers1040]

Yes! I can't stand it.

[@kaitlyng7850]

Yeah I never thought I’d have JOMO until I was watching some overconsumption TikToks on a KZbin video about overconsumption and I just thought to myself “this is too much it would actually cause me anxiety” because I really hate sooo much stuff even if it’s aesthetically pleasing! Minimalism “aesthetic” is more appealing to me

[@ewetn1]

What on earth is jomo?

[@PARAZARELLE]

@@ewetn1 Joy of missing out

[@LJMcCarty]

TikTok sounds like a chore.

[@N.Traveler]

We're literally at a point where these "aesthetic/cores" are just turning your average hard-working 9-5 people into costumes, and the hard-working 9-5 people are watching influencers cosplay as them (while being paid 5-10 times their salary). What a world...

[@Zhaneel]

as someone who found you through your video on blake lively - really enjoy your videos because your analysis feels very balanced and your awareness of nuance gives your perspective a thoughtfulness i appreciate. on a personal level, as a fellow autistic person it means a lot to me to see someone else who thinks in a way that feels familiar to me, especially when you’re receiving so much (well-deserved!) positive feedback for it. i’m rooting for your continued success!! edit: as someone else noted, the met gala is in fact a charity fundraiser, but loved this video other than that!

[@StateofKait]

Thank you! Being autistic makes it a lot harder to process critical or mean comments, but I’m SO proud of myself for pushing through and developing a thicker skin over 5 years.

[@ajh3301]

Thank you. As a disabled woman who had to quit work 20 years ago due to autoimmune disease I can say most people don’t get it. I see ridiculous overspending all around. My income is well below the average you quoted, like half. And the whining about a wrinkle or pimple is just insane when I’ve had multiple amputations. Now I realize everyone’s reality is their own but let’s open our eyes folks.

[@asarishepard8171]

Omg I'm so sorry. On the acne talk though, I found one face wash that works on my skin like a dream. 8 bucks and lasts 2 months, im not getting anything else 😂

[@starlightsall]

It's also a lot easier to work 11 hours a day if the end result is a 6 figure salary per moth plus sponsored luxury trips to Bali. There are many people who have to work those hours for minimum wage and then have to pick up side hustles just to make ends meet in this economy.

[@StateofKait]

Exactly!

[@eeveum]

You hit the nail on the head, they’ve always been obnoxious to me. But people are so exhausted and anxious right now, watching someone flaunt frivolous stuff they got for free and acting like its life changing is just so disingenuous.

[@awalker127]

Mikayla makes my scalp crawl when i hear her. I clearly dont follow anything of hers, lol. Im not sure who the hell can even listen to her. Oddly, Cassandra had the same impact on me, and i also can't follow anything of hers. They're all so out of touch, it's absurd. I dont need to go online to find someone to lie to me or sell me something, and WHY are they always yelling. If only we could cancel them both, and many more. They certainly do more harm than add value in this complicated world

[@lostgirlcosplay14]

I'm from Massachusetts and can't stand her fake Boston accent. No one here talks like that

[@KaiGrafia]

Same!!! She irks me

[@Muffin420man6]

Thanks for being one of the voices still speaking despite being drowned out, ur helping ppl like me who need to hear the message… for me, its not just an online reality. The people around me all DO spend more than they have, it influences me for sure, esp w all the online adding to it. Videos like this give me a grounding point i wouldnt have otherwise.

[@cynthb]

Female IT Security / Cloud engineer here, so one of the most male-dominated career paths. And I'm a Canadian Air Force veteran. What the influencers the "office siren" trend, and the young women who act on this trend, don't seem to understand is that women dressing this way will get harassed and/or have their actual work played down and overlooked. The predators will see someone who "wants it", and the others will see someone who is trying to get ahead using her youth and figure, not the skills her employer is paying for. And yes, they are undermining many decades of work to be seen as qualified and equal.

[@flowerfinder-f1e]

Thank you for this comment.

[@joannaalexander1006]

I’m currently a female in the US Army and I agree with everything you said. I purposely don’t wear makeup and only get my nails done because I don’t want to attract anymore unwanted attention that I get working a male dominated field.

[@AM-ry4px]

Software developer here. I do not wear too dressy clothes to work even though I love dressing girly, makeup and accessories so much. But due to my working environment and the people I mostly interact with everyday, so I avoid anything that might be considered too much and opted for more comfortable clothing. Even though we women dressing up without any bad intention, but somehow people will take it wrongly which I find sad.

[@bmet102]

My sister worked in mining. They had a uniform and she would still get comments about her body. This was five years ago. So many women are still dealing with sexism and harrassment in the workplace.

[@em-xr8dk]

I’m in college full time, honors program student, and work two jobs for around 30 hours a week total. I would love to get paid thousands to sit at home and work on the internet.

[@what_a_snoot]

Damn, never realised Cassandra Bankson had gone down that route..

[@spookyariel1]

Yeah her KZbin content that I've watched gave me no idea that she was a home shopping host on tic toc..doesn't she sort of poo poo that sort of thing?

[@what_a_snoot]

@@spookyariel1 her view count always seemed relatively low to me, maybe that could be a reason.. we all need money but it is a shame because unfortunately I wouldn’t trust her opinion as much anymore

[@donotreply8979]

She keeps telling people she went to Stanford 😂

[@captain__rogers42]

I thought she looked familiar. Disappointed not gonna lie

[@spookyariel1]

@semirelatablesarah too bad..this is questionable

[@niushad.2608]

Wow! this video is EVERYTHING! the research, the set-up, the analysis - truly chef's kiss! as a phd who makes below living wage, I couldn't take the overconsumption on my fyp while simultaneously seeing the genocide in Palestine, the child labor in the Congo, and the fashion waste plaguing east Asia, mainly for western benefit. I had to stop and delete instagram as well as TikTok bc the dichotomy between death and shopping has become unbearable. I can't say how much this video meant to me and how educational it was, when you said that engaging with this starts to change your perception of normal - I felt that so hard. From one neurodivergent girlie to another (I also cry when opening my fridge sometimes lol) - thank you so so much for the time and effort you put into this

[@StateofKait]

Ahhhhhhh thank you! Sending you hugs

[@heatherhaven1268]

OMG that TikTok shop live thing was so overstimulating ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh 🙈🙉

[@StateofKait]

It legitimately makes me angry!

[@hannahbanana6261]

Finally! An honest and open video on the nonsense of the world we’re living in. ❤

[@wearelegion1163]

I'm glad social media wasn't around when I was young, impressionable, gullible & super-impulsive.

[@Puddleduck1]

I'm a ward sister in the UK on a 36 bed acute stroke ward. I "officially" work 12.5 hr shifts but often have to stay for longer to help the night shift because they're often out of pt/Nurse ratio. I then go home to take over the care of my 4yo disabled son from my husband. She has got no idea what hard work is. There are days we don't even get a break on our shift! Massive love to all fellow actual hard workers across the pond ❤

[@omgitsmeginbailey]

I thank you for touching on the Office Siren trend! As a young Gen Z, I look at some of these siren looks and think there’s absolutely no way they actually wear these outfits to work. For me, it’s about looking professional, but being comfortable too. I will take my saddle, Oxford and dress pants with a sweater over some of these looks any day if it means uncomfortable. There are content creators out there who show realistic office environment, friendly outfits, and I do appreciate those so much. It can be mundane to wear the sameoutfit every single day just mixed up a little bit, and it’s nice to see people who get it and actually get good insight and advice and inspiration of what to wear in an office environment and still look cute.

[@theoneonlyjustine]

Your comment about there being no way these office "sirens" actually dress like that at work becayse they would be freezing was pure GOLD 👏I laughed out loud! Thanks for a well researched and clearly communicated video.

[@heatherLcharron]

Was so pumped to see your video pop up! As always, your opinion is spot on. Thank you for this! ❤❤ 95 percent of influencers I see are completely out of touch. Amd weirdly it doesn't make me get fomo or want what they have it just makes me think "wow, these people must not have much joy in their lives outside of their material posessions" and just how simple-minded some must be to not realize or think about how they come across to their followers or everyday people who stumble upon their content.

[@StateofKait]

I don’t get fomo either, I just find it rather sad.

[@heatherLcharron]

@@StateofKait 100 percent 😔

[@hbanana970]

It’s the sponsorships that urge us to buy things. They say they “love it so much” and they’re “so obsessed!!” But I’ve never heard them talk about that product before and I’m tired of being told to buy things. I just want to see normal real life people

[@smokerscough2907]

Also when they have multiple brands sponsor products for them and it's the same type of product but the influencer has the nerve to say it's the only product they use. Like girl we saw the competitor product in your last 2 videos. Be for real.

[@cs-yq5ed]

I only follow a few content creators that I feel like I can trust. Whenever I see the same new product over and over, it is an immediate Red Flag. Often it is a hot product for about 2 weeks and then nobody talks about it again. If a product is truly good, you will keep using it. And, if a CC is wowed by every single product, that tells me their review can't be trusted.

[@StateofKait]

Same here!

[@jwynn1812]

My favorite line in the entire video was “why are you yelling at me?” 😂. Absolutely love your channel! ❤️

[@gardenhappy4]

I stopped using TikTok a long, long time ago. I felt instantly overwhelmed and it made my ADHD spiral. Looks like I am not missing anything. (Low consumption shopper here.)

[@pamandrade0759]

Thank you!!!! So SICK of falling for these influencers rants about products that i feel i really needed only to find out most of these products are nothing more than just another product to give away or throw in my bin of useless cosmetics and skincare items!

[@trae4529]

Amen to that! Never EVER again am I giving in to “You’ve GOT try my HG mascara!!!! Obsessed!!”

[@pamandrade0759]

@@trae4529 Yes!!!!! We all need to educate ourselves on how some of these influencers trick us to spend our money when sometimes they get it for free! And that you cant have 20 “ favorites , holy grail” mascaras!!

[@elliottfg6005]

I literally had to rewind when you said 75 MILLION dollars. I liked her before the marie antoinette, but it shows who she really is. I’m 19, and being enticed to shop has become part of my life. I’m lucky that I come from a frugal family who taught me to save, but I’m so worried about the incessant marketing we all encounter every day.

[@standdownrobots_ihaveoldglory]

Love the work you are doing!!! And your on-air skills are sublime (see my long a$$ comment lol). Felt I must tip this think piece!

[@StateofKait]

@@standdownrobots_ihaveoldglory you are so sweet, thank you 🥹

[@Nyctm91]

“Its no wonder people are bored of this shit” 😂

[@alleycat1396]

Really love your content and especially this video. I ventured into the beauty side of influencing two years ago and was immediately sucked in. The FOMO was intense and I felt like I had to buy so much product to keep up. Finally, perspective and boundaries kicked and I started to critically think about the content I consume. It was really watching a ‘video essay’ by JB where she pretended to get so deep on trends and overconsumption that triggered me. Her feed is literally full of influencing, flaunting of wealth, extravagant trips, etc. it was so alarming how many people really thought she was being genuine when in reality, she is using her parasocial relationship for clicks, views and more subscribers. I started looking at everyone with a much more critical lens and I only follow two influencers that I trust now. Like you, I was a 90s teen and I think not having social media so engrained in my formative years helped snap me out of it. I am a teacher and I am constantly trying to help teens critically think about content on Tik Tok and to not buy the latest trend. We actually look at ingredients of lip balms and compare pricing and everything in math class now. Showing them that trends are built in for a reason and you are being duped. Such a hard lesson to learn.

[@ewetn1]

Who is JB?

[@LostInSpaces]

26:05 I felt my eardrum burst. OMG how are people deliberately following a person who sounds like that? 😣

[@StateofKait]

@@LostInSpaces it’s satire! Her content makes fun of influencers.

[@LostInSpaces]

Wow good to know but still, so annoying 😖

[@skulltaylor1616]

U know they don’t pay for anything. They don’t buy $1000+ hauls - they’re given vouchers and free clothes

[@Muh-Rang]

Oh my gosh - i was so surprised to see Cassandra Bankson!! I generally see her content as down to earth, informative and not overly-consumerist

[@magathax1587]

I’m not on TikTok, and I’d been wondering why I hadn’t seen her much lately on KZbin. I was even a little concerned. Now I get it. I wish her well, but I’m not gonna follow her there.

[@megschield8412]

I was taken back as well to see her! Like the other commenter said, I haven't seen her on KZbin, just shorts, and I wondered why. Now that I know, I'm really disappointed and not sure if I can trust her 😢

[@tiffany.Elizabeth.]

It was very embay

[@christinasciabarra1216]

Oh no!! Bummed to see her there, but I guess all those ethics she talked about weren’t more real than the money she could make. So disappointing.

[@josie4897]

Omg SAME!! I always liked her educating content but this just threw me off 😢

[@charmingandwitty]

Every area in our day to day life is over hyped followed by so many exaggerated claims and just plain lies. I have social media people I follow since instragram was created .... they have become so disconnected from reality that I have blocked them from seeing the crap they put out. I have to ask have so many people lost their common sense? Social Media influencers are simply chasing the buck no matter what. I can rant about this forever. Kait stay true to who you are, you're one of the few that provides honesty on content.

[@StateofKait]

Thanks so much, means a lot

[@marianna6926]

Really enjoyed the video. As a Gen X I am not on TikTok, it mostly just irritates me. I have never been a fan of social media. Although I do like Instagram and that is more than enough social media for me (I am aware that TikTok, KZbin, and Instagram often cross over). The more hysterical and insistent influencers become about products they are trying to hawk the more repulsed I feel. I do think at some point Millenials, Gen Z and Gen Alpha will turn away from this media and there may be something else on the horizon. Facebook is a good example of that trend and the generational gap, it is not popular with younger generations at all. Additionally I do hope as younger generations get exposed to more and more social media they develop a thicker skin, and have a stronger barrier against being influenced .We are all working on controlling our impulses, our FOMO and developing our critical thinking. These technologies are still nascent to the course of human brain development. And although they have been incredibly disruptive to our social order and historical context, this outsized influence may be short lived. Being in tech myself, I know that companies employ social scientists to make their products more compelling and thus more addictive. But people adapt and I do believe we will all learn to reach a balance between how much we allow technology to disrupt our societal norms.

[@alice_rabbit8345]

TikTok gives me anxiety. I lost my job in May and decided to retire (I’m 65). I still watch a few beauty YT channels but I’m not tempted to buy anything.

[@my-nostalgia-is-horror]

I literally hate fast fashion over consumption and stuff like that It’s so damn soulless

[@happygolucky9004]

Remember that "reduced inflation" only means that prices are going up slowly. Cost of living, which I think is a better indicator, is at an all time high.

[@vvitch-mist20]

I'm all for offices taking people serious regardless of appearance, but this looks very uncomfortable like if I was in an office I would wanna dress in more comfortable clothing.

[@StateofKait]

I would be *so* cold

[@vvitch-mist20]

@@StateofKait Right. Like it's cold in offices lol . If she wore thick tights on top of it and maybe a turtleneck the outfit would be okay.

[@Sowindiee10]

Kait you rock, you are like the dose of reality I always need (my husband also loves your content because you are an excellent de-influencer btw). You are like the 'go touch grass' KZbinr we all need haha it's great.

[@StateofKait]

Awww, thank you 🥹

[@lisa34478]

I don’t have TikTok, intentionally. Man, those lives are wild! We used to make fun of infomercials…do these products come with a free set of steak knives? 😅

[@ninthefrog3911]

Thank you for covering this topic. Some influencers are unaware of how disconnected they are from the general public. I don't blame them, but I do wish they were more well informed of their own followers.

[@kristinnared]

Most of us barely make ends meet and seeing these already rich influencers getting so many free stuff - is infuriating honestly. When Tarte gave out iPads to influencers was one of the most out of touch & dystopian things I've seen. They should have gifted those iPads to schools or kids/people in need.

[@lauralong3545]

I am so glad I deleted TikTok!

[@saadbunni]

They still have access to all ur data I think ☠️😭

[@orangeandyoghurt]

Excellent analysis and commentary as always! I'm getting so excited whenever I see a new video of you pop up. It's always time well spent.

[@belladonna1475]

Thank you. You are a great influencer. I’m 17, and consuming content like yours helps me a lot. I think people are just crazy nowadays. Not that I don’t understand them-I do-but I don’t want to be like them. We desperately need to love ourselves. I’m lucky to have had an idol like Lady Gaga at a very early age, so that I love myself now. Lol 💜🖤🦄

[@user-qj9en1kp1m]

I live in Eastern Europe, I am part of the middle class and I earn less than 17K USD a year! Some rich girl has an apartment that cost more than my yearly paycheck and she doesn't consider herself privileged? Wow, the disconnect...

[@kikiLafleurGlam]

31:10 I laughed out loud. “ Those bitches would be freezing.” Because ain’t nothing like a portable heater underneath your cubicle desk 😂😂

[@StateofKait]

I was wearing thick sweaters and socks to the office in the summertime! 😭

[@kikiLafleurGlam]

@@StateofKait lol Exactly.... Me too.

[@kristinelewis5373]

I am late to this video because I have been purposely avoiding online content for a while, and I love that your channel is kind of shifting into essays like this. It’s so real. Thank god this culture popped up when I was in college and already almost fully formed. I think it would’ve destroyed me in middle school

[@StateofKait]

Thank you so much!

[@martasoltys9091]

I'm so proud of myself. I took an honest look at everything I had from Sephora before the sale and all the sh-t I gave away and I realized.... I NEEDED NOTHING. I did buy one eyeshadow palette and two mini sizes of the Orbie shampoo, just b/c it's so expensive to buy and I like to try new stuff, but in general... I'm super happy I resisted. I even wonder if I need the eyeshadows since I'm not an eyeshadow girl. But they are pretty and I just got a new job, so I might actually use them. I have been really trying to focus on WHAT IS NEEDED and while I do love trying new things and the samples from Sephora go a long way... I find drugstore brands have really stepped up their game. Thanks for the video. Very timely. Very honest. I like hearing your NO BS attitude.

[@StateofKait]

Thank you and great job exercising constraint!

[@martasoltys9091]

@@StateofKait Thank you. I am trying to be a yogi from the heart. I even spent a few months at an Ashram at 3 different times since 2018 and one month this year. I can't believe Cassandra Bankson is on tiktok. She sounded like a crazy person; like the very person she used to be against. I really liked this video. I like when people don't give into pressure and just do their own thing. Minimalism is calling my name, even if just to try it for a while. Thanks for the video again.

[@PenielShober]

Thank you for this video! I’m a hairdresser and I speak with a lot of younger girls in high school or older teenagers and I make sure they know that this is all fake and is not reality, many if not all of them don’t realized that social media stuff is SET UP and purposely put together for a reason and it’s not real. Influencers just want to get paid and push content out. Also this reminds me of Samantha Ravndahl and how she posted something a while back saying: “This year has been one of the hardest of my life, in every single category. The lows have been so low that it's been difficult to come out of them to enjoy the highs.” And then a few posts later she said: “I am struck by how many small businesses and creatives have expressed how difficult of a year 2023 was for them. So many of these people have talked about how they have struggled to see how they will be able to keep their businesses going. Running a business has been the scariest endeavour of my life - putting so much of your time, love and money into something, having no clue if it's going to work out. Celebrating small wins feels like tempting fate, worrying about bad days or weeks is a never ending spiral. It can quickly turn passions into anxieties. The people who truly care about what they do and what they put out into the world often closely tie their sense of self to their work - and as their business ebbs and flows, so does their confidence. For anyone feeling this way, trust that you aren't the only one - though I often find myself wondering why I can't seem to match up to businesses and people that make success look simple…..” Mind you she lives in an Island in Canada!!!!!! Like really????? I guess living on an island makes you even more disconnected from reality!

[@pixi78]

Loving this content ❤ I’m so over gross overconsumption. We don’t have TikTok shop in Australia and I hope we never do!

[@thepywacket]

Really enjoyed this, thank you. I am a neuro spicy old tech worker. And at a certain point in my life where my relevancy is fading, so I am prone to being influenced by influencers. Content like this is helpful

[@LMC682]

0:25 that TirTir foundation they were shoving down our throats, soooo annoying and such shameless marketing. Also that foundation is 🗑️

[@StateofKait]

It sucks, I hated it

[@aletheadawn]

As someone who is trying to grow on social media, I couldn’t agree more with so many things said in this video. It is RARE to find genuine influencers that stay this way. Hypothetically speaking, if I ever have money like some of these people, I cannot imagine not doing an immense amount of charitable work/ donating. Instead- they constantly flex their wealth.

[@gretae7321]

When I hear someone trying to sell me something, I immediately scroll. It’s like I can sniff out an ad even without that yellow banner. When I see the yellow banner, I’m not watching period.

[@papasalvo]

12:47 good lord someone took that "Shiny teeth" song to heart

[@sonialouisa3637]

I am definetely a marketing victim and struggle with FOMO surrounding especially beauty products so watching these videos help me a lot to become more aware of my own consumption habits!

[@Filmchica99]

3:36 all of you who made her famous should be ashamed

[@BIRDY_GIRL49]

Great video, Kait! Very smart and thoughtfully executed. Looking forward to your next one! Take good care.

[@StateofKait]

@@BIRDY_GIRL49 have a great weekend 🩵

[@melissa.deklerk]

The clip you included from the movie "Keeping up with the Joneses". Excellent movie. Really makes the "chasing the influencer lifestyle" lifestyle very clear.

[@PosaPunto]

People used to have hope that one day they could reach at the influencers standards. Now leave alone that becoming impossible, life style qualities are getting lower each day. People are losing their jobs, their houses, prices are going higher because of inflation. When all this is happening seeing influencers showing off their expensive life styles just makes you feel bad, it's not a thing you would want to watch and enjoy anymore. The fact that they're still sharing these things tells people that they have no emphaty for you and they're mocking you. Because they're living that lifestyle because of you, while you're going down they're showing off the money they got from you.

[@snaillord9516]

this is the first time i've stumbled upon your chanel, but i am so happy to have found it!!! thank you for sharing such important topics and opening up the floor for these discussions

[@StateofKait]

Thank you, glad to have you here!

[@lynzieplays]

Hey Kait. Always love your content. I’m always so grateful up here in Canada tiktok shop doesn’t exist haha, must be so annoying to scroll when everything feels like a way of trying to sell us something

[@TheSim1derful]

@@lynzieplays oh my god same. It's actually so nice to not even know what tik tok shop even looks like

[@menow1650]

How insane is it that media has had way to much control over my life since I opened my first fashion magazine as a teenager.......wow, I feel so sad about this.

[@gelbeauty87]

This is why people should just start following smaller influencers. They are buying MOST if not ALL of the things they review and some of them even tell you NOT to purchase things and use what you already have. I know I do when it comes to LOTS of eyeshadow palettes. Lately it looks like they use the rinse and repeat method when it comes to creating color stories and I'm tired of seeing it.

[@tastycar]

The sad reality of this is the smaller influencers grow quickly, morph into out-of-touch influencers and the cycle continues

[@gelbeauty87]

@@tastycar There are a couple of big influencers I feel still act normal (Casey Holmes & Samantha Ravanthaul) but they are far and few.

[@vcgomeez]

YUPPPP🎯🎯🎯🎯

[@smokerscough2907]

Unfortunately some smaller influencers are just as desperate to become larger influencers and will take brand deals from anyone. I've had to unfollow multiple creators between 1,000-5,000 followers who got a viral video and immediately turned into brand bots.

[@smokerscough2907]

@@tastycar Exactly what happened to a couple people I know. One girl switched up so bad she stopped hyping up her irl friends but still asked for favors about editing content. It's a sickness.

[@vivwithluv]

Thank you for addressing this. I’m so sick and tired of being sold to every second I am on that platform. It gives you a constant state of FOMO and throws you down the rabbit hole of comparing yourself to others. That makes you feel so insufficient and your sense of self is just… non-existent. Plus, people irl are WAYYYY different with the way they live. Regular people dont have 4 different dior lip oils, a huge closet full of latest clothing or 10 different accessories for your night time routine. Simplicity is gone lol. Can’t even catch a break.

[@j.t2310]

I think people dont understand how shortlived brand deals and partnerships can be, and how often influencers get robbed, divorced and struggle with addictions

[@StateofKait]

Agreed, but nobody wants to listen to influencers complaint because they’re so universally disliked.

[@BecauseImGabbi]

I can see how this influencer culture has completely changed the beauty space. Beauty content used to be about how to create fun looks with whatever you had on hand. They used to say “use your favorite foundation” or “use a pink shimmer eye shadow” now it’s “I’m using this tarte shape tape and I refuse to use anything else because omg it’s changed my life!!” It used to be about the makeup look, not the product. There was also a huge emphasis on skincare and hair “hacks” like making your own face mask using paper towels and rice water or making a hair mask out of avocado. An airport beauty routine would be about French braiding your hair and using a sheet mask, now you have to buy the travel bag AND the travel containers, AND fill them with this specific product AND buy all these minis AND perform a 10 step routine. Beauty KZbin used to feel like a fun sleepover and now it just feels like I’m being told I’m too poor

[@MeryChess]

26:05 oh my god my ears started bleeding what the actual f

[@teres_loren]

Influencer content used to feel like reality tv. Now it just feels like commercials (because it is).

[@HollyHargreaves]

I love your videos so much. Keep them coming 🎉

[@StateofKait]

Thank you so much!

[@loveit7484]

GREAT VIDEO!! Youre right about the struggles to be taken seriously as a woman in the work place. We've come a long way but still a way to go. Also, what floors me beyond all the great points youve made is posting new skin care every few days and how wonderful it is. Youre skin turns over every 28-30 days, so judging how great a product works takes time. Also, every new cosmetic- no way youre going to use them all. I struggle to just pay bills & buy food. I have about 10 cosmetics I use on the regular. Honestly, I only watch two bueaty content creators regularly. Just added you as I dig where youre coming from. Very articulate, well thought out videos. Great Job! And thank you!!

[@glowyaf]

I’m pretty careful about the content I consume. I have a few that I follow that promote overconsumption, but I avoid their videos unless I’m in a place where I feel like I can see it without purchasing. One of my favorite creators is Hannah Louise poston. She is very good about telling you that you do not need to buy things, promotes no buys, and is very mindful about what she recommends and has philosophical talks about overconsumption and just having fewer nicer things. Which I love. I can’t watch people who are a walking ad telling me I HAVE to buy things constantly. I’m glad some of these smaller creators are being mindful about what they recommend and how they speak about what they’re using.

[@missheniki]

Super insightful. Just a suggestion, you might want to preface your direct quotations with “Quote” and then “End quote” to mark that you’re citing a source. It’s best practice (in academic, my field), but it also queues your visually impaired listeners that can’t see the block quotation on screen.

[@yuktachaurasia9142]

At around 12:53, Look at the strange glitch that happens in the video, it is most likely a filter. When she is looking dosn, the video distorts.

[@shannonmatthews5471]

I really like the part of social media that is educational based. Creators who are cooking recipes from 2k years ago, from a 70s box of recipe cards or a Depression era cook book. I love all these channels about all eras of history, there is so much you can learn -- an endless array between Facebook, Instagram, KZbin and Tiktok. I like to cruise and there are many influencers in that area who make really great videos who help myself and others make plans for vacations based on the experiences (good and bad) they show us. Sometimes even what they think is bad, I think is awesome. I love make up tutorials and my really bad obsessions is like Doctor Pimple Popper et al -- but you learn so much! Mama Doctor Jones -- women's health. I mean right at our fingertips an amazing amount of knowledge. I think its the best thing ever invented.

[@Moocow999]

Its either Eat or Be Eaten. I get both sides. I’ve been off IG, TikTok and Facebook for over a year! Best decision

[@rosierose4452]

I don't give compliments often. But I must say that you look very graceful. Like a real queen. It's becoming increasingly rare these ❤ Much greetings from Germany

[@kellye.5678]

Im super prone to impulse shopping and I didn’t realize that I actually had a bad shopping problem until maybe this year. It runs in the family. When i was growing up my mom would get several packages in the mail every week and like you said social media is not helping. I need to remind myself that this level of shopping is not okay. It’s not gonna make me feel better or improve my life in anyway. But addictions are hard to rationalize and break. I’m working on it.

[@sugakaneki1009]

I’m with you on this one man, we got this🙏🏼

[@schorli183]

I am removing myself more and more from social media. All influencers seem to do the same, talk about the same, look the same, and they have the same mannerisms. If I see one more person tap-tap-taping on a surface…also they tend to promote problematic fashion, overconsumption, beauty products from companies that test on animals…I could go on. Social media has become nothing but a promotional tool and I am getting more and more tired of it.

[@melissah5391]

And, just because the influencer isn’t over the top in personality, the result is the same - SOO MUCH stuff!!!!

[@CourageousDreamerAllon4journey]

But it's their lives to live as THEY see fit. Instead of dissing them and making them feel bad for what they have.. just don't watch them. Pretty simple.

[@sienastevens]

I’m significantly less likely to buy an item if it’s being mass pedaled by influencers.