The measure of fame on social media has changed. Having millions of followers is no longer considered a sign of success — accounts with fewer followers are now being taken more seriously.
According to a recent report by the American magazine ‘The New Yorker’, most followers of large accounts are bots or anonymous profiles, and their posts receive very few likes and comments. For example, the popular musician Jack Antonoff has over half a million followers on X, but his posts receive little engagement.
On the other hand, Lota Volkova, a well-known stylist in the fashion industry, also has half a million followers, yet she shares simple photos such as a river view or a storage locker, receiving only a few hundred likes. According to writer Jonah Weiner, what was once considered embarrassing is now seen as a symbol of freedom and authenticity.
The report says this shift began after the COVID-19 lockdowns, when people started gaining millions of followers overnight on TikTok and Instagram Reels. Now, buying followers has become easy and cheap, which has reduced their value.
People are moving toward smaller platforms such as YouTube and Patreon, where they find genuine fans. A Financial Times report also indicates that since the peak of 2022, time spent on traditional social media has been declining.
Social media has transformed from a hobby into a business. The obsession with followers is fading, and those who distance themselves from platforms and still succeed are envied by others. Having fewer followers, simple posts, and freedom from online life have become the new symbols of respect, according to the report.
