Are We Influencers Yet?

I just don’t get it. I don’t really understand what it means to be an “Influencer” on a social media platform. Is this what life is, now that we have net access in almost every American household? Can anyone sit at home and influence people from their phone, tablet or PC?

If that is true, then what exactly are we being influenced to do?

I see Tik Tok challenges floating through the ethernet every time I turn around. One Tik Toker challenged others to try spraying hairspray on their bathroom mirror and lighting it on fire. As you can imagine, nothing good came of that. One kid did that and got his family kicked out of his aunt’s house, where they were staying until his mom could get back on her feet.

Another kid tried the “slap a teacher challenge” and was arrested for punching her wheelchair bound teacher.

What if we were to all go back to being REAL influencers IN REAL TIME?

How am I doing this? I’m glad that you asked.

I’m influencing my own son, on a daily basis. I’m not exactly sure what I’m influencing him to do, but I know that he takes his responsibilities seriously and that he has more compassion in his left pinky than I could dream of having on my best day. I like to think that he got some of that from me.

I hope and believe that I’ve also influenced four other children who have been my illustrators for my series of…