Yes, Influencers Have More Power Now
For a long time, we thought journalists had the most power. We believed this because they checked facts carefully, acted responsibly, and told us deep stories. But I think things are changing. In 2025, it's clear that influencers have a huge and often main power over what people think. This is because they reach many people, are easy to relate to, and talk directly to their followers.
How Influencers Really Reach People :
You might think people just quickly look at influencer content, not really paying attention. But that's not right. Think about this: over 40% of young people (under 35) get their news mostly from social media. They choose to get their news this way because it's easy and they often trust it more.
A short video about the budget or climate change on TikTok or Instagram works because it feels right to them. These aren't just quick looks; they are small, easy-to-share pieces of information that start talks, change how people see things, and make them act much faster than a long newspaper story that most people won't finish.
Reaching many people isn't just about how many see something. It's about how often they see it, how close they feel to the person, and how much they truly trust them. People follow influencers because they feel a personal link. The content feels made for them, and the influencer's voice feels real. This strong personal connection gives influencers a lot of power to convince people. Traditional news reporters, who often seem distant, just can't do this.
Being Easy to Relate To Builds More Trust Than Being 'Strict' :
People say journalists are 'trustworthy' and 'strict about facts.' But they often miss a big change: people don't only trust one big source anymore. Even though journalists have rules and people checking their work, many people now feel they can't fully trust big news companies. They accuse them of being unfair, using catchy headlines, or caring more about money.
Because of this, influencers have grown. They don't try to be like journalists. Instead, they offer content that feels real, open, and not filtered. For many, an influencer who explains something with passion, even if they're not a professional journalist, is more trusted than a news anchor who seems cold and distant. It's not about ignoring facts. It's about how the facts are shared and who is sharing them. When an influencer says, "I looked into this for you, and here's what I found," it can be more convincing than a newspaper story. Why? Because it feels like it's coming from a friend, not a big company. This 'human touch' helps people trust influencers deeply, letting them quietly but strongly change opinions on everything from politics to social causes.
Making People Act: The Real Sign of Power :
Journalists give information, but influencers make people act. A long news story might show corruption, but it's often an influencer's short, strong summary that spreads fast, making people angry, sign petitions, or even join protests. Influencers have the power to quickly bring people together, make them act, and put important issues or campaigns in front of everyone. They can change direction fast, react to what's happening right now, and use their followers to make things happen right away.
Even some agree: "A news article might inform, but an influencer's passionate post on the same issue might mobilize an audience." This shows a big change in who has power. If information doesn't make people act, it's just knowledge. But information that makes people act? That's true power.
Who is Held Responsible? It's Changing, Not Gone:
Saying influencers aren't held responsible just because they might post 'I didn't mean to offend anyone' is missing the point. Influencers live in a very public world. If they spread wrong information badly, they can quickly face anger from their followers, lose followers, lose deals with companies, and lose their power and way of earning money. This type of responsibility, where their audience and the market hold them accountable, is different from how traditional journalists are controlled, but it's very strong and happens fast. Also, many trusted influencers are now working with news companies. This brings careful journalism to their wide reach, creating a mix that is even more powerful.
To sum up, while journalists give us deep information, what people actually think in 2025 is more and more shaped by influencers. They connect directly, are easy to relate to, are fast, and can get people to act in ways no one else can. This is a new, strong power that old news companies are finding hard to keep up with. The future of what people believe and how they act doesn't belong to the old ways of getting news. It belongs to the direct, strong voices that really connect with young
people today.
For a long time, we thought journalists had the most power. We believed this because they checked facts carefully, acted responsibly, and told us deep stories. But I think things are changing. In 2025, it's clear that influencers have a huge and often main power over what people think. This is because they reach many people, are easy to relate to, and talk directly to their followers.
How Influencers Really Reach People :
You might think people just quickly look at influencer content, not really paying attention. But that's not right. Think about this: over 40% of young people (under 35) get their news mostly from social media. They choose to get their news this way because it's easy and they often trust it more.
A short video about the budget or climate change on TikTok or Instagram works because it feels right to them. These aren't just quick looks; they are small, easy-to-share pieces of information that start talks, change how people see things, and make them act much faster than a long newspaper story that most people won't finish.
Reaching many people isn't just about how many see something. It's about how often they see it, how close they feel to the person, and how much they truly trust them. People follow influencers because they feel a personal link. The content feels made for them, and the influencer's voice feels real. This strong personal connection gives influencers a lot of power to convince people. Traditional news reporters, who often seem distant, just can't do this.
Being Easy to Relate To Builds More Trust Than Being 'Strict' :
People say journalists are 'trustworthy' and 'strict about facts.' But they often miss a big change: people don't only trust one big source anymore. Even though journalists have rules and people checking their work, many people now feel they can't fully trust big news companies. They accuse them of being unfair, using catchy headlines, or caring more about money.
Because of this, influencers have grown. They don't try to be like journalists. Instead, they offer content that feels real, open, and not filtered. For many, an influencer who explains something with passion, even if they're not a professional journalist, is more trusted than a news anchor who seems cold and distant. It's not about ignoring facts. It's about how the facts are shared and who is sharing them. When an influencer says, "I looked into this for you, and here's what I found," it can be more convincing than a newspaper story. Why? Because it feels like it's coming from a friend, not a big company. This 'human touch' helps people trust influencers deeply, letting them quietly but strongly change opinions on everything from politics to social causes.
Making People Act: The Real Sign of Power :
Journalists give information, but influencers make people act. A long news story might show corruption, but it's often an influencer's short, strong summary that spreads fast, making people angry, sign petitions, or even join protests. Influencers have the power to quickly bring people together, make them act, and put important issues or campaigns in front of everyone. They can change direction fast, react to what's happening right now, and use their followers to make things happen right away.
Even some agree: "A news article might inform, but an influencer's passionate post on the same issue might mobilize an audience." This shows a big change in who has power. If information doesn't make people act, it's just knowledge. But information that makes people act? That's true power.
Who is Held Responsible? It's Changing, Not Gone:
Saying influencers aren't held responsible just because they might post 'I didn't mean to offend anyone' is missing the point. Influencers live in a very public world. If they spread wrong information badly, they can quickly face anger from their followers, lose followers, lose deals with companies, and lose their power and way of earning money. This type of responsibility, where their audience and the market hold them accountable, is different from how traditional journalists are controlled, but it's very strong and happens fast. Also, many trusted influencers are now working with news companies. This brings careful journalism to their wide reach, creating a mix that is even more powerful.
To sum up, while journalists give us deep information, what people actually think in 2025 is more and more shaped by influencers. They connect directly, are easy to relate to, are fast, and can get people to act in ways no one else can. This is a new, strong power that old news companies are finding hard to keep up with. The future of what people believe and how they act doesn't belong to the old ways of getting news. It belongs to the direct, strong voices that really connect with young
people today.