Rise of the Instagram Influencer

According to the text, regular people and celebrities on Instagram have discovered that if they have enough followers, they can earn all of the following EXCEPT _____________.

• free stuff

• trust

• a car

• money

When people see a celebrity or social media star they love talking about a product, they are more likely to ___________.

• want it

• ignore it

• buy it

• tell a friend

Kim Kardashian got into some trouble because she posted a picture with a lollipop that is supposed to help you ____________.

• think more clearly

• reduce anxiety

• eat less

• all of these

The article discusses Kylie Jenner’s Instagram posts advertising what product?

• gummy vitamins

• make-up

• leggings

• sunglasses

What is a huge factor in the influencer-follower relationship?

• style

• trust

• looks

• age

Inferences Made About Author's POV:

Instagram influencer fame is not limited to celebrities and reality TV stars. Many regular people have found fame—and sometimes fortune—as well. Erica Gibbs, a thirty-something wife and mother of three, follows dozens of fashion and lifestyle influencers on Instagram. “I buy a lot of stuff based on what these girls share. That’s how I keep up with the trends. At least I think I do,” Gibbs explains. Her favorites aren’t celebrities but rather seemingly-ordinary people like Jennifer Reed with The Sister Studio. “[I] love her style and she is so down to earth. And she shares affordable stuff. And she’ll tell you if she doesn’t like something. Her stories are hilarious!” Gibbs says she also enjoys posts by Brittany Garcia because “she’s more my size.”

• People follow influencers because they like their style.

• People follow influencers as a way to keep up with what’s trendy.

• People follow influencers because they like the companies they advertise for.

• People follow influencers because they are well-liked celebrities.

Inferences Made About Author's POV:

The rise of this new form of advertisement has led to new challenges for our society. Influencers can cause businesses to run into legal problems. The Federal Trade Commission, a government organization that makes sure businesses are behaving correctly, has expressed concerns that social media influencers blur the line between advertisement and deception. Officials are concerned that it is not always clear when an influencer is being paid to advertise a product, which is not fair to the public. Some people might think the influencer is just sharing the product because they like it, not under-standing that it is a business deal. They also worry that influencers might tell the public inaccurate or even dangerous information about a product. They have started sending warning letters to influencers telling them to make it very clear when they are advertising.

• Followers should be wary of posts by influencers and consider their intentions.

• When influencers go rogue, businesses are to blame.

• Influencers can’t be held liable when they break laws while advertising for companies who hire them.

• Businesses should take care to ensure the influencers they hire are following important guidelines and protocols when advertising.

The author’s main purpose in this article is to…

• show the reader how television and radio advertising have become obsolete.

• describe the different social media platforms Influencers use.

• persuade the reader to be wary of social media influencers.

• inform the reader about issues surrounding Instagram influencers, including positive and negative perspectives

Read the text excerpt below and answer the question.

But is the trend great for consumers? Perhaps not—some influencers have deceived their followers and made it impossible to escape advertising. Furthermore, influencers have caused our social media to become overrun with advertisements in a way that may frustrate or confuse people. In the past, it was very clear when you were looking at an online advertisement. Advertisements were everywhere, but they were fairly easy to ignore. Now, it is not immediately clear when we are being advertised to. It takes a bit more thinking to identify the advertisement because it blends in with all the other posts you are scrolling through.

Which of these inferences about the author’s point of view is best supported by the excerpt above?

• The author believes that advertising through Instagram influencers is sometimes deceptive.

• The author believes that Instagram influencers are irresponsible.

• The author believes that people put way too much trust in influencers they don’t really know.

• The author believes that influencers are only doing it for the money.

Why did the author include the subsection The Other Side in the article?

• to explain to the reader how influencers gain followers and earn money.

• to show the reader some different perspectives on influencers.

• to convince the reader that advertising by influencers should be illegal.

• to prove to the reader that influencers are willing to do whatever it takes to be transparent.