Why can a stranger with millions of followers influence people more than family or teachers?

[Avocadorable]

[Taurus_Woman]

A stranger with millions of followers can sometimes influence people more than family or teachers because influence today is often driven by visibility and attention rather than closeness or wisdom.

Social media amplifies reach someone online can speak to millions at once, while family and teachers usually influence a much smaller circle. Repetition also plays a role: when people constantly see a public figure’s content, opinions start to feel familiar and therefore more credible.

There’s also the perception factor. Influencers often present themselves in a polished, relatable, or aspirational way, which can feel more appealing than advice from family or authority figures that may seem more emotional, strict, or routinBut that doesn’t necessarily mean they are more trustworthy or knowledgeable. It just means their message spreads more easily in the modern attention-based environment. Real influence depends on reach, presentation, and timing , not always depth or truth.

[Ez-Bri-Z_v2]

A lot of people are followers rather than leaders added in with how they've been trained since maybe around toddlerhood to worship their favorite celebrity, starting with cartoon characters through what we see today with social media influencers. It makes for a formula to where idol and celebrity worship can go too far and have people selecting a former celebrity as president of this country multiple times.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Because it's probably more appealing to want to become the one followed by millions.

Whereas becoming a teacher doesn't really sound epic, unless you live in ancient Greece with pillars and togas.

Becoming dad or mom might sound even less epic, regardless of the time period.

[strateguy632]

the fact they are POPULAR made their opinions, seem important to kids. telling them various opinions. but in voting, despite a HUNDRED celebrity against trump, nobody listened to those popular singers etc.

[uncarved]

It depends on the relationship, I think. I think if you have a poor relationship with your family and teachers, influencers might have stronger pull. But if you have an extremely respectful and trusting relationship with family and teachers, influencers have less pull.

I think it just depends on where the individual is in their personal life, and how satisfied they are with their relationships

[OneViewpoint]

Because there are a lot of idiots out there. Ahem... millions of followers. You answered your own question.

[lilBigPotato]

Some of them are more like influenza... But the problem are the people mindlessly following them.

[Anonymous]

Just because they are titled an influencer doesn’t mean they actually have influence over all their followers.

[Zionne]

today's world is more powerful than the past. We are more free

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

Parasocial relationships can be very powerful

[exitseven]

Fame is indeed a mighty magnet.

[jahaims]

Most people are stupid