How can social media influencers justify breaking Covid-19 rules? | Annie Lewis

Social media influencers have been flaunting their wealth and ignorance through posting pictures of their holidays abroad, namely Dubai, on Instagram.
Influencers have travelled abroad during the pandemic. Picture: ShutterstockInfluencers have travelled abroad during the pandemic. Picture: Shutterstock
Influencers have travelled abroad during the pandemic. Picture: Shutterstock

For those who don’t know what a social media influencer is, the Oxford Dictionary defines them as ‘a person with the ability to influence potential buyers of a product or service by recommending it on social media’. In short, they advertise products – from chocolate bars to clothes – on their social media channels, where they have millions of followers, in exchange for sometimes very questionable sums of cash.

A decade ago, influencers would grow their following through YouTube videos and blogs. But in the past few years, most influencers are a product of reality TV shows, like ITV’s Love Island.

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Up until the pandemic, I never had a problem with influencer culture. It’s undeniably toxic, highlighting false and unattainable lifestyles which many aspire to but can never obtain. But if you don’t follow them – which I don’t – you remain largely unaffected.

However the ignorance and selfishness of a few influencers during this pandemic has been hard to ignore. The media have rightly called them out for their ‘work’ trips abroad, with Matt Hancock saying there should be ‘no parties in Paris or weekends in Dubai’. The question is: do they have to pose with a random product outside the Burj Khalifa ‘for work’ or can it be taken in their back garden?

With thousands of people dying a day and the NHS at breaking point, I find it astonishing that these influencers see their actions as anything but insensitive and unnecessary. Many have tried to justify their actions by saying they needed to get away for their mental health. Wouldn’t we all love a holiday?

One influencer even tried to claim they were key workers and were therefore entitled to jet away to create content. How incredibly insulting to the exhausted heroes of the NHS to be lumped into the same bracket as influencers.

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Even with UK borders closing to some countries, including the United Arab Emirates, nothing seems like it will get in the way of an influencer and a large wad of cash – not even a deadly pandemic.

The UK seems to be leading the way in vaccinations

It was reported that the UK virus deaths have exceeded 100,000 since pandemic began.

That figure in itself is absolutely horrifying and heartbreaking.

However, with that snippet of bad news, there is also good news: the UK is currently leading the way in vaccination in Europe.

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According to data, the UK has vaccinated more than seven million people, compared to Germany’s 1.7m and France’s one million.

This is great news, especially as we are repeatedly told how a vaccine is the only way out of this pandemic.

Let's hope this vaccine success continues and the country can meet its 15 million target in February.

Is the education farce worth Gavin Williamson resigning?

Many teachers, educational staff, students and parents are angry at the way education has been handled during the pandemic.

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After the infamous school U-turn at the beginning of January, schools are doing their best to aid parents with their remote-learning.

Many are calling for the resignation of Gavin Williamson, the education secretary. After the painful A-Level and GCSE blunder of summer 2020, it’s quite impressive he has kept his job for this long. However, would it cause more disruption than good to replace the education secretary at this point?

It will be interesting to see how he handles the eventual return to schools later this year.