JEFF CAPLAN'S MY MINUTE OF NEWS

Jeff Caplan’s Minute of News: Mamas, don’t let your babies grow up to be influencers

Sep 12, 2024, 7:00 PM

A person recording a young influencer on s smartphone in a studio...

If you’re raising a teenager and you’ve ever heard them say they want to be an influencer -- y’know, a social media influencer -- tell them "No." (Canva)

(Canva)

Editor’s note: This is an editorial piece. An editorial, like a news article, is based on fact but also shares opinions. The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and are not associated with our newsroom.

SALT LAKE CITY — If you’re raising a teenager and you’ve ever heard them say they want to be an influencer — y’know, a social media influencer — tell them “No.”

Sure back in the old days, like 3 years ago, influencing was a respectable career that could make you rich. Just ask Kim Kardashian. There are 240 million followers who love and trust her. Even when she’s violating federal law. Like in 2022 when she was charged after she promoted a crypto post on social media.

Everybody makes mistakes. But the days of adorable people endorsing questionable products appear to be coming to an end because the world is now embracing AI influencers. Why pay a moody and demanding human when your company can just invent someone who’s cute, or smart, or sexy — and doesn’t want to get paid?

Tell your kids. This might seem like the distant future — but it’s right now.

How do you build an AI influencer? Well, you can actually find videos all over the Internet that will break it down, step by step.

Then, you build a following and cash in with product deals. So, tell your teen that instead of looking in the mirror, they should be staring at YouTube. That’s the future.

Jeff Caplan is the host of Jeff Caplan’s Afternoon News on KSL NewsRadio. Follow him on Facebook and X. 

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Jeff Caplan’s Minute of News: Mamas, don’t let your babies grow up to be influencers