I have loved social media since its inception. From 2009-2013 I authored an award nominated site eponymously named Mariankihogo.com. When I started to blog, I found I could not stop blogging. I had a great desire to share a point of view and to hear the point of view of others. What I liked about blogging in its early days was that every blogger had their own perspective and voice. It was a joy for me to share my thoughts on fashion, my personal style, art, catwalk, events, design and more. I would write multiple posts a day and this did not feel like a chore. This led to award nominations (Lucky Magazine’s ‘best fashion voice’, Cosmopolitan Magazine’s ‘best fashion blog’), magazine features (a lineup of social media icons including me graced the cover of Company Magazine’s January 2013 issue. This was the first mainstream magazine cover to star bloggers), being listed in best blog lists (The Guardian, The Evening Standard, Essence Magazine etc), garnering untold digital press and feature (from varying platforms, boards, blogs and more) and paving the way for the shape that blogging took.
When I look back on it all, my blog did well because I loved the medium of blogging. I simply wanted to share my thoughts on things and was intrigued to hear what others thought.
Fast forward to 2023 and platforms such as TikTok have changed the way we communicate. The reels and transitions of our times has birthed the ‘influencer’ and he and she seek that you buy into the brands and products that they are being sponsored to promote. We have gone from super bloggers to super influencers and the latter pair technical know-how and a current era where the mainstream (which was led by the main fashion houses) as been replaced with whatever the Y2K generation think is hip. The masses no longer look to central fashion powers for inspiration nor for what to buy.
More recently the deinfluencing trend which sees people share what people should not buy and what to get instead. This is an interesting trend as though they might be decrying buying one, given that they are recommending an alternative, they still are influencing. I would like to see people simply enjoy the products and brands that they genuinely enjoy and that they share that if they want to.
I see my blogging as an attempt to undo this notion that we all have to wear the exact shoe designer having a moment, carry the same designer handbag or that we all have to have the same walk in closet within a home with minimalist design (how many on Instagram have been inspired to decorate their places of abode in this style?). I would like to see individuality. I would like to see the back of fashion trends (such as the brights trend, the sportswear inspired trend and the streetstyle inspired look) and beauty trends such as (like the lace front wigs, the perfect ‘beat’ and other).
I would like to see individuality. I would like to see influencers who are unique. I would like to see social media begin to start conversation again.
What is your favourite social media platform? What are your thoughts on deinfluencing? How are you using your social media accounts? Have you ever bought something because it was recommended by a social media profile? What are your thoughts?
Image: Photography by Phill Taylor for Refinery 29.