Let’s Unpack The Latest Money-Saving Trend: De-Influencing

Any brand can make a commercial with glowing comments about their product. It’s one reason why consumers turn to human beings for honest reviews. Although the popular influencers you’ve followed for a while built trust through their branded image, seeing their posts could be the ultimate weakness for your budget. Check out why everyone’s de-influencing and a few benefits of trying it yourself.

De-influencing is a TikTok trend started by Alyssa Kromelis. She posted a video revealing which products she tried that weren’t as good as influencers promised and alternatives that were better for people on a budget. The video’s primary purpose encourages people not to believe everything they hear online to save money.

The recommendation matches current consumer research. Market analysis shows 53% of people following influencers make purchasing decisions based on what they recommend. If those people weren’t telling their followers to buy, the followers would save money by researching the items themselves or buying discounted alternatives from local stores.

There are numerous reasons why de-influencing could be the next best step for your budget and mental health. Check out what you could experience to decide whether to hit unfollow.

When someone with millions of followers posts about a specific product, there’s more reason to rush to purchase it than a limited-time discount. You’re clicking the same link as millions of others, increasing the chance the item might become out of stock and unavailable to purchase. The drive to make an impulse purchase can be high if your influencers sell expensive things such as makeup, wellness or clothing.

Social media and online shopping are becoming more and more connected as technology and the internet grow. TikTok recently unveiled the TikTok Shop. Similar to Amazon, TikTok’s recommendation system, analyzes your interactions to highlight products you’ll enjoy. Influencers will show off a product, and have the link straight to purchase on the same platform. While this might be convenient, it makes impulse buying even easier.

Purchasing goods from places other than social media creates opportunities to buy things in ways that are better for your overall budget. Cash stuffing envelopes with labeled purposes is one way to control your spending and reach your financial goals. Without the immediate gratification of influencers offering affiliate links, you might feel more inclined to save your money for things that are more important to you. 

Even if you’re already doing things like reading books to improve your overall well-being, your self-image may not be as strong as you’d like. Part of an influencer’s job is convincing their followers they need something to improve themselves. Brands couldn’t sell products without that mindset, including influencers branding their platform with support from ad deals.

If you’re not seeing posts saying you need something to feel happy or confident in your body, your self-image can improve. You won’t think about changing yourself whenever you open social media. As a result, you’ll stick with buying things you need for more purposeful reasons, including your grocery bill or the occasional splurge on self-expressive clothing.

Influencers and any brand capitalizing on limited-time sponsorships take advantage of the fear of missing out. When people feel like they’re missing out on a unique experience, they experience greater anxiety. 

De-influencing fills your social media feeds with posts from people you know personally, rather than influencers trying to sell you something. Instead of becoming jealous and anxious due to seeing an influencer’s post, you’ll feel happy that the people you love are living their authentic lives. Your overall mental health will improve, preventing feelings of jealousy, regret and longing for things you don’t need. 

Following influencers might be fun, but de-influencing could be the positive digital change you and your budget need. Consider how many influencers you follow and how often you purchase something based on their recommendations. Gaining space to research purchases before you make them might save your budget and improve your mental health.