Although social media platforms have only been around for a short time on the web, they have undergone tremendous changes in that time. While sites like Facebook and Instagram may have started out as visual highlight reels, they have since evolved into a safe space for people to discuss contentious cultural issues.
Anyone with access to a social media account has a unique opportunity to raise awareness about important social issues such as racial discrimination, gender bias, LGBTQIA+ visibility, and more.
When one has a sizable social following, even if it’s just a few thousand, it’s simple to keep posting the algorithm-friendly content that has become the norm. But there are influencers who are shaking up the social media landscape by speaking out and lobbying for reform.
Here are six people who have a lot of social influence and have done amazing things in the past year to help start conversations and break down barriers.
Donté Colley
First, there’s Instagrammer Donté Colley, who uses the platform to promote positive mental health practises in the most upbeat and entertaining way possible.
e. Known by some as the “motivational dancing guy,” he posts happy, emoji-filled videos to his feed that are meant to make you smile.
People are drawn to Donté’s vulnerability and positivity, which have contributed to his growing following over the past couple of years thanks to his honest and open discussion of mental health.
He sacrificed his usual upbeat content to help advance the conversation about Black Lives Matter and police brutality after the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.
Adwoa Aboah, No. 2
Adwoa Aboah, a model from the United Kingdom, created Gurls Talk, a non-profit website dedicated to helping young women with their emotional well-being. She has been on the cover of Vogue magazines in the United States, Spain, Germany, Italy, Mexico, and the United Kingdom, but she considers her activism to be her true calling.
She discusses women’s rights, mental health, equality, and other issues facing young women openly as part of Gurls Talk, an Instagram account, podcast, and now global events.
Adwoa shares her struggles with depression, bipolar disorder, and addiction, as well as her attempt at suicide in 2014. Her openness demonstrates to her Instagram followers that it is acceptable to broach these taboo subjects without fear of repercussion.
Listed as Jessamyn Stanley #3
Jessamyn is a yoga instructor who uses her Instagram to promote positive body image. Like many other influencers, she posts photos of her yoga practise and mirror selfies, but her captions are full of encouragement to appreciate and love one’s body, regardless of its shape or size.
For Sade Giliberti, number four
South African TV host and actress Sade Giliberti uses her Instagram to call audience attention to the media’s poor depiction of the LGBTQ community. She also took an active part in the #HaltTheHate movement, which sought to end the widespread harassment of the LGBTQIA+ community on social media.
Her work resounds with a desire to inform and inspire. In 2019, she expressed her disdain for the celebrity culture, saying, “What’s the point of having thousands of people know you, and more that follow you, if you’re just going to be vapid and soulless?”
Tess Daly, Number Five
British beauty influencer Tess Daly has a sizable online following on both Instagram and YouTube. She’s collaborated with companies like Boohoo and Pretty Little Thing, but she’s also not afraid to criticise the fashion industry’s heavy hitters for their lack of diversity in their models.
She wrote a post last year complaining that she and other disabled people weren’t compensated equally for promoting various brand products. Tess is holding brands to account and providing insight into life as a disabled influencer by publicly stating that people want to see diversity in their advertising and on their Instagram feeds.
To number six, we have Lex Horwitz
Lex has gained a large Instagram following as a trans actor and model thanks to their interesting and captivating posts. They use their fame to raise awareness about the importance of mental health care and LGBTQIA+ issues, and to push for greater visibility of marginalised bodies like their own.
Keep your integrity intact as an influencer
You, too, have the chance to use your social media to have your voice heard, just like the trailblazing influencers we’ve highlighted here.
Some years ago, it was simple to create a false persona to use on the internet. Being genuine has become increasingly valued in modern society. Listeners can detect insincerity from a mile away.
Consequently, when it comes time to monetize your account and select brands to work with, it is crucial to locate organisations that share your own personal vision.