For the past thirteen years, Ahmed Mekky never failed to give us a good laugh with the series EL Kebeer Awi and this season was no exception. Last week, the lovely Ayten Amer guest-starred in the show and played the role of a famous influencer, Cherouk. The plot thickened when it was revealed that she faked her life for views and money, asking Johnny to partake in the ruse in exchange for engagement and followers.
The episode ended with Johnny addressing everyone to stop putting their lives online, just take a breather, and enjoy life. While it’s a good message and stands the test of time, one has to wonder, should all influencers be under attack for simply providing entertainment? Where do we draw the line between liking influencers and calling them out?
To be entirely fair and not biased, what Ahmed Mekky told us in the 12th episode is true. The overconsumption of social media leads to a depressing and unrealistic lifestyle. We must remind ourselves that everything is not what it seems. Behind what some influencers portray as a picture idealistic way of living and #goals, there’s a team dedicated to building the so-called perfect image. Yet, generalizing all influencers as fame-hungry, money-obsessed people is unfair. In reality, most influencers use their platforms to entertain or highlight important causes that might alter the course of certain events for the better.
Another message that Ahmed Mekki addressed in the episode is how social media is a plague to privacy and how sharing each facet of your life destroys any chance of privacy and peace; the message is 100% correct however, if we’re being honest, the idea of influencers or famous people using their fame to stay in the public’s eye has been going on for a very long time.
Think of the Kardashians, Laguna Beach, The Hills, or any reality TV show from the 2000s. Let's even take it back to the golden age of cinema, when publicist spent their years constructing an image for actors and actresses for the public to consume, it is nothing new; it's the same idea, a different method. So why now? Why does it matter to talk about the harm or benefits caused by influencers? What’s the main takeaway? Is this the beginning of the end of influencer culture? This sounds a bit exaggerated. Influencer culture isn't ending anytime soon. Yet, there's a shift in how we perceive influencers as we can tell which one is being real and which is fake. We are looking for one-of-a-kind, original content with a touch of reality. An adventurous vlog with a relatable and down-to-earth vlogger.
The main takeaway for both viewers and influencer, is as follows:
Enjoy life. Don't get too consumed by social media.
For influencers, be careful of what you're posting and the type of content you are spreading to countless viewers.
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