“Fake Famous” | What did Instagram do for (and to) fitness?

The HBO documentary “Fake Famous” examines some of the ways that Instagram can be manipulated to create “influencers” with large followings (50-60% of which might just be bots) that advertisers are willing to pay to reach. We talk through our impressions of the doc, and discuss the relationship between the growth of the fitness/lifting community and the rise of social media:

• Are lifters using some of the same methods to grow large followings?
• What can you actually gain by buying followers, likes, and engagement?
• Where do we draw the line between ethical and unethical promotion of products and services?
• What’s the mental/emotional impact on influencers…and their followers? Is the real goal of social media to make you feel bad about your own life and circumstances?

Next month, we’re going to talk about the influence of the documentary “Pumping Iron” in an episode. send us your written comments or voice memos to social@50percentfacts.com.

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Hosted by Mike Farr (@silentmikke) and Jim McDonald (@thejimmcd).

Produced by Jim McDonald

Production assistance by Connor O’Neal @connoroneal.

Theme by Aaron Moore.

Branding by Joseph Manzo.