Nearly 40% of all Instagram influencers in India were defrauded by software providers offering them tools to boost their follower count and audience engagement
The crass race for bottom lines and business just hit a new low. In what has come to light, certain social media influencers are charging money for amplifying SOS messages and queries. Yes, which means they ll put in a word for oxygen or plasma or ICU bed and save someone on deathbed if they get paid for it. The price allegedly depends on the number of followers they command on primarily three platforms Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
A report by Medianama says that many of such influencers are associated with The Indian Influencer Network (IIN), a platform that lets one hire digital influencers across India and has a network of 15,000 plus influencers spread across 65 cities.
6 hours ago
Few social media influencers are charging money for amplifying SOS calls for blood plasma on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. This comes at a time when Covid-19 related supplies oxygen, blood plasma, medicines– are in short supply, and citizens in need have been taking to social media looking for a solution.
Many of such influencers are associated with The Indian Influencer Network (IIN), a platform of 15,000 influencers spanning across over 65 cities. The IIN has been approaching brands/startups to partner in a campaign for helping citizens find plasma donors.
In the campaign, brands and startups have to integrate an IIN-provided plasma portal on their websites. For a fee, influencers will promote this portal through their social media handles, and when requests for blood plasma pour in, the influencers will also amplify these SOS requests. IIN has also partnered with an NGO, which facilitates communication between donors and recipients. To be pa
Covid-19 SOS requests for plasma, oxygen are now being charged for by some social media influencers
Among the surging requests on social media platforms around critical Covid-19 related supplies, influencers have started charging for sharing these requests with their followers.
Sarthak Dogra | May 14, 2021 | Updated 14:25 IST
(Image for representation: Reuters)
Highlights
The revenue is being generated through a campaign involving brands and startups.
Arguments are being made around the ethics of such a practice in an unprecedented situation.
As a dire need of Covid-19 supplies, including oxygen, blood plasma and Covid-19 medicines, grips India, people turned to the use of social media platforms to reach out for help. Goodwill among the netizens saw an extensive amplification of such SOS requests to date. It is now being reported that some social media influencers are monetising the situation.