"Influencers" Author's Purpose and Point of View

Read the paragraph below and choose two options that best show the author's point of view regarding why people follow influencers.

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 thirtysomething 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.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.1

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.5.8

Read the paragraph below and choose two options that best show the author's point of view regarding what should be done regarding advertisement.

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 understanding 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.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.5.8

The author’s main purpose in the article is to _____________.

• persuade

• entertain

• inform

• describe

What is the author’s purpose for including the photograph near the bottom of the first page of the article?

• to advertise for Target

• to show readers an example of what an Instagram influencer post looks like

• to show readers an popular pair of boots

What is the author’s purpose for including the graph on the second page of the article?

• to show what social media platform is most popular.

• to show the percentages of each age group in the U.S. who use Instagram.

• to show the reader that college students do not like Instagram.

What conclusion does the reader reach after examining the data in the graph on the second page of the article?

• Older adults like Instagram better than Facebook.

• Middle School students use Instagram more than any other platform.

• It is most popular among 18-24 year olds and the second most popular age group is 25-34 year olds.