Deinfluencing
“I’m so immune to new trends, I still drink New Coke.”
Influencers tell us what to buy. Deinfluencers tell us what not to buy. But at the end of the day, are they just playing the same game?
In our latest episode of Toonsplained, we take a look at the deinfluencing movement—a social media trend where creators actively discourage their audiences from purchasing overhyped or unnecessary products. On the surface, this sounds great. Who doesn’t want to avoid wasting money on the latest overpriced tech gadget or that skincare product that definitely won’t fix your face?
But the deeper you look, the more it seems like deinfluencing is just influencer culture doing a hard pivot. The same people who once shilled the latest iPhone are now telling you it’s a scam, only to turn around and promote a better product in the same video. The message isn’t really “stop buying things”, it’s “buy what I tell you to buy.”
And then there’s the absurd escalation. It starts with tech products and fast fashion. But soon, people are deinfluencing things like soap, deodorant, and even shoes. Why? Because “Big Smell” and “Big Shoe” are apparently out to get us. And let’s not forget Gary, the only sane one left, who never got influenced in the first place and is just watching the world crumble.
