Are influencers increasingly replacing traditional celebrities in terms of cultural relevance, or are they simply occupying a different space within pop culture?
Yes
Influencers are increasingly becoming more culturally relevant than traditional celebrities because they command attention where culture now lives: online, interactive, and algorithm-driven spaces. Platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram have produced figures such as MrBeast, Charli D’Amelio, and Emma Chamberlain, whose reach often exceeds that of film stars among younger audiences. Unlike actors or musicians, influencers engage daily with their followers, shaping trends, language, fashion, and consumer behaviour in real time. Due to this, Gen Z often feels a stronger connection to ‘influencers’ and find their content more relevant than traditional TV/film—exactly the definition of cultural relevance today.
Brands increasingly prioritise influencers over traditional celebrities because of their perceived authenticity and direct audience trust. Influencers don’t rely on studios, labels, or gatekeepers. They are the product and the platform. As cultural relevance becomes defined by visibility, relatability, and constant presence rather than prestige, influencers are not just supplementing celebrity culture, they are redefining it.
No
Influencers may dominate patform-specific attention, but they have not replaced traditional celebrities in cultural significance or longevity. Film stars, musicians, and athletes continue to shape global conversation through major releases, live events, and shared cultural moments that influencers rarely achieve. Movies like Marty Supreme, tours like Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, and events such as the Oscars or the Super Bowl demonstrate that traditional celebrities still anchor mass cultural experiences.
Influencer fame is often fragmented, platform-dependent, and short-lived, driven by algorithms rather than sustained creative output. While influencers excel at niche engagement, traditional celebrities retain symbolic power, institutional backing, and cross-generational recognition. Cultural relevance is not just about visibility — it is about impact, memory, and endurance, areas where traditional celebrities continue to dominate
