Social media and technology are pivotal aspects of society and allow for accessibility to the world from behind a screen. Within the last ten years, communication online has dramatically grown, thus resulting in the creation of influencer culture on social media. As the development of technology surrounding influencer culture and social media exponentially increased, it has left security measures and online safety harder to control. The dangers that influencers face and have been persistent throughout time are physical threats, cyber threats, and mental health issues. When comparing fame between influencers and celebrities, influencers are viewed as more accessible to the public despite both categories having a large following. This has prompted 76% of major brands to dedicate a portion of their marketing budget to influencers; ultimately, pushing more individuals to attempt to become an influencer. In fact, in a recent study it was found that about 86% of individuals between the ages of 13-38 were open to becoming social media influencers. With easier accessibility to fame, the less cautious individuals are more likely to release personal information. This leaves influencers vulnerable to threats both physically and virtually. Thus, in analyzing influencer culture alongside real life examples throughout the past decade, this thesis will aim to highlight the gap that exists between social media influencers and security.
