Despite being a multi-billion dollar industry, the influencer space operates with almost no regulatory oversight. This is especially problematic for child influencers, who have no legal guarantees for work breaks, privacy, or a share of the income they generate.
Unlike platforms where content goes viral, Instagram’s original design prohibited resharing. This forced the focus onto individual creators, making people—not posts—the unit of virality. This key decision turned personal accounts into 'life resumes' and fueled the rise of influencers.
While lucrative, the influencer career path is incredibly precarious. Creators live under a microscope, opening every aspect of their lives to consumption and ruthless criticism. A single mistake, from a disliked brand partnership to a poorly handled interaction, can lead to a swift fall from relevance.
Instagram is not a neutral platform; its internal editorial team actively curates and promotes favored users. By featuring creators on its corporate account, which has more followers than any Kardashian, the company can single-handedly manufacture fame, proving the playing field is not level.
Instagram's original culture, focused on taste and quality under founder Kevin Systrom, clashed with Mark Zuckerberg's relentless, data-driven pursuit of 'domination.' This fundamental difference in founder philosophy ultimately led to Instagram losing its independence and becoming more like Facebook.