Stop Fake Influencers — UX Solution | by Sudarshan Ba | Oct, 2023

Have you ever bought a product after an influencer’s recommendation and been disappointed? Let me share my own experiences of being deceived by these influencers.

I’m a foodie, and the term “foodie” became popular with the rise of these food vloggers. I’ve even thought about becoming one myself. I have this habit of documenting food and food places that I explore on my Instagram profile.

Thanks to food vloggers for helping me discover hidden food gems in the city.

However, they’ve also disappointed me at times. Typically, about 1/3rd of the time, I end up at a lousy place despite their glowing recommendations.

Recently, an Instagram influencer suggested a place in Chennai, but the food was terrible despite the hype in her video. This happened to me more times than I like to admit.

Influencers usually have multiple income streams, most of which involve endorsing products or services. They get paid for every endorsement.

Influencer = A person who has the ability to influence your (purchasing) decision.

It could be a doctor recommending a pharmaceutical product, a trainer suggesting sportswear, or any other expert in their field. They’ve earned our trust and confidence with their experience. They are people who have been there done that. They help us make the right call, whether it’s a film critique, food vlogger, or fashion influencer. Personally, I see great potential in micro-influencers, especially those who cater to smaller communities and niches.

But the Evil/Problem is when influencers misuse our trust by promoting the wrong product or service. They’ve let me down several times, especially when it comes to food, which can cost anywhere between Rs.300 to 500 each time. But, It’s a critical issue when influencers endorse financial credit products, gambling, or medicine that can have a significant impact on people’s lives.

I discussed this issue on my design podcast, where we brainstormed a couple of solutions:

1. Check the Comments: Often, people who’ve purchased the same product share their thoughts in the comments. However, the problem is that comments can be deleted or disabled.
2. Introduce a “VALIDATE” Button: Personally, I wouldn’t buy anything without checking the ratings and number of ratings on platforms like Amazon or Flipkart. I prefer Myntra over AJIO because they display public ratings, which is SOCIAL PROOF.

So, by validating endorsements, influencers can be held accountable and become more reliable. However, it’s important to note that opinions about products or services can be subjective, so the “validate” option aims to verify whether the information is true or false.

In a world where influencers play a major role in our choices, from food to clothes to everything. It is essential to address the issue of fake influencers. It’s not about villainizing influencers, it’s about ensuring that they’re not misusing their influence.

Let’s stop(reduce) fake influencers and create a more reliable and authentic influencer scene for everyone.