An influencer, also referred to as an online influencer and social media influencer, is a term traditionally associated with someone who is considered influential. The term has more recently been associated specifically with people who influence and guide the interest of others using social media.[6] The modern referent of the term is commonly a paid role in which a business entity pays for the social media influence-for-hire activity to promote its products and services, known as influencer marketing.[7]
Types of influencers include fashion influencer and virtual influencer. Some influencers are associated with specific social media apps such as TikTok influencers,[8]Instagram influencer,[9][10] or Pinterest influencer, and many are also considered internet celebrities. As of 2023[update], Instagram is the social media platform on which businesses spend the most advertising dollars towards marketing with influencers.[11] However, influencer can exert their influence on any type of social media network. Thus, Instagram's leadership in the influencer marketing space has been under assault by platforms such as LinkedIn, TikTok, Snapchat and Roblox.[12][13][14]