The Influencer Industry: The Quest for Authenticity on Social Media - Paperback
$27.29
Skip to product information
The Influencer Industry: The Quest for Authenticity on Social Media - Paperback
$27.29
by Emily Hund (Author)
A critical history of the social media influencer's rise to global prominence
Before there were Instagram likes, Twitter hashtags, or TikTok trends, there were bloggers who seemed to have the passion and authenticity that traditional media lacked. The Influencer Industry tells the story of how early digital creators scrambling for work amid the Great Recession gave rise to the multibillion-dollar industry that has fundamentally reshaped culture, the flow of information, and how we relate to ourselves and each other. Drawing on dozens of in-depth interviews with leading social media influencers, brand executives, marketers, talent managers, trend forecasters, and others, Emily Hund shows how early industry participants focused on creating and monetizing digital personal brands as a means of exerting control over their professional destinies in a time of acute economic uncertainty. Over time, their activities coalesced into an industry whose impact has reached far beyond the dreams of its progenitors--and beyond their control. Hund illustrates how the methods they developed for creating, monetizing, and marketing social media content have permeated our lives and untangles the unforeseen cultural and economic costs. The Influencer Industry reveals how, in an increasingly fractured and profit-driven communications environment, the people we think of as "real" are merely those who have learned to exploit the industry's ever-shifting constructions of authenticity.Author Biography
Emily Hund is a research affiliate at the Center on Digital Culture and Society at the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg School for Communication and a consultant to industry, academic, and government groups. Her work has appeared in leading publications such as the New York Times, the Atlantic, and the Guardian.
Number of Pages: 232
Dimensions: 0.53 x 9.21 x 6.14 IN
Publication Date: March 25, 2025
Details
This product is crafted with quality materials to ensure durability and performance. Designed with your convenience in mind, it seamlessly fits into your everyday life.
Shipping & Returns
We strive to process and ship all orders in a timely manner, working diligently to ensure that your items are on their way to you as soon as possible.
We are committed to ensuring a positive shopping experience for all our customers. If for any reason you wish to return an item, we invite you to reach out to our team for assistance, and we will evaluate every return request with care and consideration.
