An academic analysis of the wellness influencer community on TikTok and Instagram, examining how algorithms, relatability, and social contracts shape content creation.
This document is an academic analysis of the wellness influencer community on TikTok and Instagram, written by Alex Russo. It examines how routines, meals, and self-care content are produced and consumed within a woman-dominated digital space.
The first section discusses the architecture of digital authority, arguing that algorithms are not neutral but actively shape what content and creators are considered health and wellness. The invisible nature of algorithms creates a perception of authenticity that is never the case.
The labor of relatability is explored next, showing how influencers must appear both perfect and relatable. They create a false sense of relatability by sprinkling in bits of imperfection to maintain viewer engagement while preserving their aspirational image.
Routines are identified as the basis of the community, covering food, fitness, and daily habits. The constant sharing of routines creates labor for creators who must continuously produce new and perfected versions with perfect aesthetics.
The social contract of wellness is examined through the lens of reciprocity and participatory culture. Creators act as educators and viewers as students, with a feeling of need for spreading knowledge and pressure for consistency and perfection.
The document concludes with a reference list of academic sources and social media posts from TikTok and Instagram that were analyzed as artifacts of the wellness community.