The Influence Illusion: What We Owe (and Don't Owe) Online

When tragic events unfold and your feed erupts with takes, counter-takes, and performance activism, the pressure to say something—or explain why you're not saying anything—becomes suffocating. But what if the entire premise is flawed? In this episode, we examine the messy intersection of social media, influence, and responsibility during times of crisis, unpacking:• Why influence is a byproduct of visibility, not a moral badge you earn• The difference between being loud and being effective (and why one rarely creates the change we think it does)• How algorithms weaponize our emotions to keep us divided, distracted, and smaller• The litmus tests every business owner and consumer needs before posting—or reactingThe Construct We're Living In• Social media isn't reality, yet it rules our worlds in ways we're only beginning to understand• We've expanded who counts as "public," but the mechanism of influence hasn't changed since Hollywood award shows• Information overload has given us more access than ever with somehow less clarity than ever• Polarizing content drives engagement, creating a constant stream of emotionally charged information designed to keep us activatedThe Business Owner's Dilemma• The pressure to address current events versus the fear of saying the wrong thing (or nothing at all)• Why announcing "it feels weird to post" is often a cop-out masquerading as awareness• The slippery slope of tying your business values to political stances—and when it's worth it• Three critical questions to ask before you post: Are you informed or dysregulated? Can you hold a boundary when someone disagrees? Does this align with how you want to be perceived long-term?The Consumer's Responsibility• Unfollowing someone is your right—announcing it aggressively serves no one• The grocery store apple test: Would you do this in real life, or only behind a screen?• How engaging with one piece of content flips your entire algorithm, creating echo chambers that feel like reality• Why keyboard warrioring keeps us distracted from the actual work of creating changeThis conversation reminds us that posting your opinion isn't the same as taking action. Whether you're a business owner wrestling with what to share or a consumer deciding where your attention goes, this episode offers the framework to move through these decisions with intention rather than reactivity. Being loud is not the same as being effective. Nuance dies in 60 seconds. And we're all being manipulated by systems designed to keep us fighting with each other instead of seeing the full picture.Follow Krysta:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thekrystahuber⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠@thespreadmktg⁠Instagram: ⁠@thefitnessfyx⁠