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Influencers with Young Fans Get Away with More

Influencers are no stranger to scandal. At any moment their comfortable lifestyle could be ripped from under them with one trending hashtag. However, it seems that some influencers are constantly getting away with bad behavior, and the only reason they aren’t ‘canceled’ is because their fans are too young to understand the severity of the situation. Here are two examples: 

Bryce Hall

Hall has made a name for himself on TikTok. His audience grew when rumors started circling that he and Addison Rae were dating and he soon became the leader of the Sway House. He was quickly the target of ridicule and criticism when he continued to throw parties during the global pandemic. Los Angeles was on lockdown, but Hall and other members of the Sway House continued to party and even celebrated Hall’s 21st birthday. Soon, the City of LA turned off the utilities to one of their houses in an attempt to stop them. 

After this scandal, Hall was arrested with fellow Sway House member, Jaden Hossler, for a drug-related charge in Texas. The sheriff’s office later confirmed that Hall was charged with possession of less than 2 ounces of marijuana which can result in up to 180 days in county jail or a fine up to $2,000. Hossler was arrested and charged for possession of four to 400 grams of a controlled substance in penalty group two (which in Texas includes most hallucinogens and stimulants) and possession of 2 to 4 ounces of marijuana. They were released after posting a combined $11,500 bail. 

Recently, Hall got into a physical altercation at a restaurant in LA, which was recorded and posted online. Hall was using a vape inside the restaurant (it’s illegal to smoke anything inside an LA restaurant) and his waiter asked him repeatedly to stop. Hall defended himself and explained that the waiter then took his credit card and didn’t return it to him when he asked for it repeatedly. He then said that the manager attempted to escort him out of the restaurant but refused to give him back his credit card and that’s when members of the Sway House and the restaurant staff began to fight. However, multiple workers recall Hall immediately becoming aggressive after the waiter simply asked him to stop vaping. A witness also confirmed that Hall was the first one to throw a punch. Although the influencers were gone by the time the police showed up, the LAPD is investigating to confirm what happened. 

The ACE Family

Family channels on YouTube are supposed to show their audience how they live day to day. In their multimillion-dollar homes, they act like a normal family and film essentially every moment of their life. Even though these videos are filled with children laughing and a happy family, no one knows the amount of stress that is created when trying to film multiple videos per week. 

The ACE Family, which consists of Austin, Catherine, and their young children, has faced backlash for being inappropriate around their children and complaining about materialistic items that most of their fans dream of obtaining. In the past, Austin posted a video of a six-year-old licking a suggestively shaped lollipop. He filmed himself laughing at her and even purchasing the lollipop. Audiences criticized him for not only allowing her to grab the candy but also filming it and posting it for anyone to see. They’ve also faced backlash for simply having their children in the videos because of how much they film. Unlike Hollywood, there are no rules or regulations to keep children safe on YouTube. Some audience members are concerned because their young children technically cannot consent to be filmed and fear that they are being filmed too much. 

Their rise in fame has increased their wealth, but they still complain and attempt to relate to the audience that once did. For example, they created a three-part documentary which showed the construction of their multi-million dollar home. Austin and Catherine also made a video with a sad thumbnail and created clickbait to convince audiences that something horrible happened during construction. Instead, the problem in the video was them complaining that they would have to move into their home without the landscape being done. Although this is not inappropriate or hurtful, it still shows that they can’t relate to their audience anymore and they are unaware or simply don’t care enough to change their content because their young audience will still watch every video. 

Recently, The ACE Family has gotten into more serious trouble. Catherine uploaded a video titled “A Day in the Life with Catherine” where she showed the audience what she does throughout her daily life. At the beginning of the video, Catherine is filming the intro with Austin holding their daughters behind her. When Catherine begins, Austin comments on his hair and she begins to put the camera down in frustration. Austin then raises his voice and even curses at Catherine with their daughters still in the room. Catherine didn’t edit this mistake out and some audience members speculated that she did that on purpose to reveal how Austin truly behaves. The ACE Family quickly made a video in response claiming that they were bickering all morning and that Austin’s action was justified. Catherine explained that if it were a more serious situation she would leave with the children because she has the ability to do so. Austin defended himself by saying that most parents accidentally curse in front of their children. 

Although these are just two examples, they both represent the type of influencer who has a young following yet continues to post inappropriate content. Other members of the Sway House and other family channels feel just as entitled and will continue to make inappropriate content because they know it will get views and gain them more subscribers. Children who use YouTube don’t see the underlying issues with their favorite influencers, so it’s the older generation’s responsibility to hold influencers accountable.


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Influencers Expanding Their Businesses

Although influencers can make thousands of dollars by posting and advertising on one social media platform, it’s typical for them to branch out onto others. Those who rose to fame on Vine went over to YouTube and now those with successful YouTube channels have grown a following on other platforms such as Twitch or TikTok. However, just because an influencer is gaining followers or getting engagement on a platform, it doesn’t mean their content is entertaining or good quality.  

More times than expected, influencers only expand their platforms because their managers advised them to. Managers know that brands would be more likely to work with an influencer who has a following across multiple apps so that they can advertise to as many people as possible. It would also hurt influencers to only post advertisements on their Instagrams rather than pictures of themselves enjoying life and fans wouldn’t want every tweet to be about another company. 

That’s why managers also advise their clients to take their talent off of social media. A few years back, it seemed like the popular way to do so was by “writing” a book. Influencers like Jake Paul and Lele Pons utilized their target audiences and wrote books dedicated to growing up. However, it’s easy to see that the way Paul and Pons grew up was very different than almost all teenagers. Pretty much all their problems seemed to be fixed by their increase in followers, an idea that most of their fans probably dream about. 

Influencers tend to attempt to break into the acting world as well. Whatever show or film is, it typically targets their young audiences, so the shows are cringey for anyone their age or older and are put on blast by commentary YouTubers. The BratTV YouTube channel created a show called “Attaway General” which featured TikTok stars acting as aspiring doctors and nurses in a hospital (a little ironic that it premiered in the middle of a global pandemic). One of the most recognizable actors is Dixie D’Amelio, Charli’s older sister. Dixie has a following on TikTok and YouTube where she is her chill, relaxed self. But, in this show, she plays a rude teen that rolls her eyes a million times per episode. Dixie’s manager should have found a show that targets an older audience so Dixie’s sarcastic attitude would’ve been funny rather than annoying. 

Not all influencers break off of social media and fall into the pit of cringe-worthy platforms. Some form businesses of their own and use their personality to advertise that. The best example of this is Emma Chamberlain and her company, Chamberlain Coffee. 

Emma Chamberlain has been on YouTube for almost five years and she has recorded herself making, buying, and trying coffee so creating her own coffee company was no surprise to fans. Her company offers Fair Trade and organic coffee that is made with no synthetic fertilizers or chemicals as well as bags made out of recycled material. The type of coffee ranges from Early Bird, a highly caffeinated light roast for those who get up and go, to Careless Cat, a half-caffeinated coffee with notes of toasted almonds, semi-sweet chocolate, butterscotch candy, and raisin made for relaxing. 

Influencers such as Emma Chamberlain have created an online brand for themselves the moment they started posting videos. This brand will follow them throughout their career and they either need to utilize it or completely change it, which will ultimately change their target audience. Emma Chamberlain was able to take something important to her (drinking coffee) and make that experience possible for fans. 

When fans buy a product of a certain influencer it’s because they want to support that person. Fans care about the people who entertain them, but it’s important to acknowledge if those people care about the quality of the entertainment they provide.


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