Short answer
Critically evaluate the adoption of influencer-style self-promotion and algorithmic optimization in your design practice, considering its impact on authenticity and long-term career sustainability.
- Field
- Innovation & Design
- Source
- New Media & Society (2023)
- Method
- Qualitative empirical research
- Evidence
- Strong effect
The pervasive influence of social media platforms, particularly Instagram, has led to a phenomenon termed 'influencer creep,' where artists adopt influencer-like strategies of self-branding, algorithmic optimization, and curated authenticity, fundamentally altering artistic practice and labor. This innovation & design research insight is drawn from a 2023 study published in New Media & Society. Using Qualitative empirical research, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Critically evaluate the adoption of influencer-style self-promotion and algorithmic optimization in your design practice, considering its impact on authenticity and long-term career sustainability.
Influencer creep reshapes artistic identity and labour through platformisation
The pervasive influence of social media platforms, particularly Instagram, has led to a phenomenon termed 'influencer creep,' where artists adopt influencer-like strategies of self-branding, algorithmic optimization, and curated authenticity, fundamentally altering artistic practice and labor.
New Media & Society · 2023
Key Findings
- 01Artists increasingly engage in self-branding, mirroring influencer cultures.
- 02Strategic optimization for algorithmic visibility is a common practice among artists.
- 03A stylized form of authenticity is presented online by artists.
- 04Influencer creep intensifies demands for constant performance and maintenance of an artistic identity on social media.
- 05This phenomenon deepens existing inequalities in cultural and creative work.
Application
Design takeaway
Critically evaluate the adoption of influencer-style self-promotion and algorithmic optimization in your design practice, considering its impact on authenticity and long-term career sustainability.
How to apply
When developing a personal brand or promoting creative work online, consider the long-term implications of adopting prevalent social media trends and how they align with your core values and artistic goals.
Project actions
- 01When researching an artist or creative professional, consider their online presence and how it might influence their work and career trajectory.
- 02Analyze how digital platforms shape the presentation and reception of creative output.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Provides a novel conceptual framework ('influencer creep') for understanding contemporary artistic practices.
- +Draws on multiple theoretical perspectives (sociology, platform studies, feminist cultural studies).
Limitations
The findings might be specific to certain artistic disciplines or social media platforms. The subjective nature of 'authenticity' can be a challenge in research.
Reliability & validity
The qualitative nature of the research may limit generalizability. Validity relies on the accurate interpretation of artist behaviors and platform dynamics. Reliability could be enhanced through triangulation of data sources (e.g., content analysis, interviews, platform analytics).
Think critically
To what extent does the adoption of 'influencer creep' strategies compromise the genuine artistic expression and long-term career sustainability of creatives?
Design Principles
"Balance authentic creative expression with strategic online presence, acknowledging the influence of platform dynamics on professional identity and labor."
Understanding 'influencer creep' is crucial for designers and creatives navigating the digital landscape. It highlights how platform dynamics can dictate creative output and professional identity, potentially exacerbating existing inequalities within creative industries.
What This Means for Your Design
Social media platforms like Instagram are changing how artists work and present themselves, making them act more like influencers by focusing on self-promotion, getting noticed by the platform's algorithm, and showing a carefully crafted version of themselves. This can create more pressure and make it harder for some artists to succeed.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use this research to support arguments about the impact of digital platforms on creative industries and professional identity within your design project.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
The phenomenon of 'influencer creep,' as identified by Bishop (2023), illustrates how social media platforms like Instagram are fundamentally reshaping artistic labor and identity. Artists are increasingly adopting strategies of self-branding, algorithmic optimization, and curated authenticity, driven by the platform's dynamics. This shift can lead to intensified demands for constant online performance and may exacerbate existing inequalities within creative fields, necessitating a critical approach to digital presence in design practice.
Source
New Media & Society
Influencer creep: How artists strategically navigate the platformisation of art worlds
journal · 2023
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about influencer creep reshapes artistic identity and labour through platformisation?
- Critically evaluate the adoption of influencer-style self-promotion and algorithmic optimization in your design practice, considering its impact on authenticity and long-term career sustainability. Evidence: New Media & Society (2023).
- Why does "Influencer creep reshapes artistic identity and labour through platformisation" matter for design?
- Understanding 'influencer creep' is crucial for designers and creatives navigating the digital landscape. It highlights how platform dynamics can dictate creative output and professional identity, potentially exacerbating existing inequalities within creative industries.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Critically evaluate the adoption of influencer-style self-promotion and algorithmic optimization in your design practice, considering its impact on authenticity and long-term career sustainability.
- What were the main findings?
- Artists increasingly engage in self-branding, mirroring influencer cultures.. Strategic optimization for algorithmic visibility is a common practice among artists.. A stylized form of authenticity is presented online by artists.. Influencer creep intensifies demands for constant performance and maintenance of an artistic identity on social media.
- What research method was used?
- Qualitative empirical research.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2023 journal from New Media & Society.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When developing a personal brand or promoting creative work online, consider the long-term implications of adopting prevalent social media trends and how they align with your core values and artistic goals.
- What are the limitations?
- The study's focus on Instagram may not fully represent the impact of other platforms or offline artistic practices. The 'stylized authenticity' aspect can be subjective to interpret.