By Ella Marrufo

Sports Editor

Alix Earle is a name that needs no introduction in 2023. Ask any teenager who she is and they’ll respond easily, all noting the same bleach-blonde hair, “get ready with me” vlogs, and over-the-top outfits. This beloved University of Miami student with a valley girl persona has successfully captured the hearts of millions on TikTok. While a few months ago the 22-year-old was just like any other college senior, she recently skyrocketed into the limelight, jumping from 1.3 million followers in Dec. 2022 to 4.4 million as of Feb. 5. 

On any social media platform, it is important to analyze these influencers from all sides and critique how they affect their viewers. Earle, like many other content creators on TikTok, creates paid videos with sponsors from several different brands. On one occasion Earle made a video promoting the nutrition supplement Bloom. Bloom claims to be an easy way to get your vegetables in and decrease bloating, and it has become a favorite among countless other influencers — so much so that it is nearly sold out everywhere online as people scramble to buy this “miracle” supplement. In reality, the product is simply a result of good marketing; Health Canal notes that “Bloom Nutrition claims that Greens & Superfoods provides ‘30+ nutrients,’ but the nutritional information label only shows significant amounts of two essential nutrients: two grams … of iron and 0.6 milligrams … of dietary fiber per serving.”

Earle’s influence is so widespread and effective that it poses a threat to younger, naive people. Just five seconds into scrolling through her TikTok comment section, it is full of messages like, “Alix Earle opened her potato chip bag upside down, so I’ll open my potato chip bags upside down,” and, “She [Earle] is having a reset day so I called tomorrow off.” Though it may all be in jest and to get likes, there is underlying truth to these people’s words. They believe that Earle’s word is law and that she knows best, even though she is just a person like anyone else. Acquiring tips and advice from influencers is fine, but blind fanaticism and an inability to think for oneself can easily result in dangerous consequences. 

Not only is Earle’s influence misleading and misguiding, but her life is also unattainable for the average person and may lead to an unrealistic perception of what life is really like. Earle has the body of a Victoria’s Secret model, drinks and parties practically every day — to a rather concerning degree, might I add — and recently hosted a horse race; a literal horse race, like something out of The Great Gatsby. However, hardly anything Earle posts on her social media is real — all her photos are edited and posed to make her look her best and to make her life appear as glamorous as possible. Earle is a toxic role model and should no longer receive praise. (Sources: Insider, Health Canal, TikTok)