A work of fiction explores the very real rise of social media influencers

The glittering life of social media influencers is under the spotlight in LON KIRKOP’s novel. The author speaks to Times of Malta on his work.

TOM: The glitter of influencers and the shine of social media ‘stars’ are the seedlings from which your first novel, Mitt Elf Isem Ieħor: HappyVeganGirlJules, grows. Does this mean you see social media and influencers as a negative force in contemporary life?

LK: I think it depends on how one looks at it. I believe that social media can be a positive thing and can be a good tool if one knows how to make use of it. The same goes for influencers.

There are many influencers on various platforms that share positivity and can influence their viewers in a good way, especially the younger generation, while helping them deal with their struggles. These kinds of influencers helped me mould Julia, one of the protagonists in the novel.

Nonetheless, on social media platforms, where everyone can freely share whatever they want, there’s always going to be dangerous and harmful content. So, what we should ask ourselves is if users, especially teens, are educated enough to know how to use social media and how not to let it impact others or themselves in...