The Cheyenne Bryant Debate Reveals a Bigger Problem with Internet Expertise: In the social media era, who should we Trust Online?
Okay Kranyians, let's talk about something that's been bothering me literally every time I open any social media app. Have you noticed how EVERYONE on the internet is suddenly an expert on everything? Like, yesterday your mutual was posting thirst traps, and today they're giving medical advice to 100K followers. Make it make sense.
The whole Cheyenne Bryant situation (and honestly, insert any influencer name here because this happens every other week) has me thinking about how we got to this point where anyone with good lighting and confidence can position themselves as an authority on literally anything. Spoiler alert: it's messier than your bedroom after a mental breakdown.
Who is Cheyenne Bryant and Why Should You Care?
When Your Fave Influencer Becomes a Wellness Guru Overnight
Girl, I'm not even talking about one specific person here because honestly? This could be about ANY influencer who decided their personal experience qualifies them to give life-changing advice to millions of people. It's giving main character energy, but like... dangerous main character energy.
We've all watched it happen: someone shares their glow-up journey, gets a following, and suddenly they're selling courses on "How to Transform Your Life in 30 Days." Meanwhile, their only qualification is being pretty and having good wifi. The audacity is actually impressive.
The Drama That Has Everyone Talking
Here's the tea: when influencers start positioning themselves as experts without any actual credentials, people notice. And when people start following their advice and things go sideways? That's when the internet becomes a very scary place. We're talking about real consequences for real people who just wanted to improve their lives.
The Internet's Biggest Problem: Everyone's an Expert Now
From Skincare to Stock Tips - The Expertise Industrial Complex
Bestie, I need you to sit down for this one because it's about to get real. The internet has created this wild west situation where literally anyone can wake up and decide they're qualified to give advice on skincare, mental health, investing, nutrition, or quantum physics. And somehow, we're all just... going along with it?
Think about it: when was the last time you checked someone's actual credentials before watching their "What I Eat in a Day" video or their crypto investment tips? Yeah, exactly. We're all guilty of this, and it's time we talked about it.
Why Your FYP is Full of Fake Gurus
Your For You Page is basically a breeding ground for pseudo-experts, and here's why: the algorithm doesn't care about accuracy. It cares about engagement. So when someone makes a bold claim like "This one weird trick cured my anxiety!" it's going to get way more views than an actual therapist explaining the complexities of mental health treatment.
It's like the internet is rewarding the loudest, most confident voices instead of the most knowledgeable ones. And honestly? We're all falling for it because confidence is attractive, even when it's misplaced.
How TikTok Made Us All Believe Random People
The Algorithm Loves Drama, Not Degrees
Can we talk about how TikTok's algorithm has basically destroyed our ability to identify actual expertise? The app is literally designed to show you content that will make you react strongly - and guess what gets stronger reactions than careful, nuanced expert advice? Hot takes from people who have no idea what they're talking about.
The algorithm is like that friend who always has drama to share - it's entertaining, but you probably shouldn't base your life decisions on what they tell you.
When Views Matter More Than Facts
Here's the thing that's really messing with my head: we've created a system where being viral is more valuable than being right. Someone can post completely incorrect information, get millions of views, and suddenly they're considered an authority on that topic. Meanwhile, actual experts are getting like 12 likes on their carefully researched posts.
It's giving upside-down world vibes, and I'm not here for it.
Why We Stan Internet Randos Over Real Experts
Parasocial Relationships Hit Different
Okay, this is where it gets psychological, but bear with me. We literally feel like we KNOW these people because we see them every day on our phones. They share their morning routines, their struggles, their wins - and our brains start thinking "this is my friend" even though they have no idea we exist.
And here's the kicker: we're more likely to trust advice from someone we feel connected to than from a stranger with impressive credentials. It's why you'd probably take skincare advice from your bestie over a dermatologist you've never met.
Complex Topics Made Simple (Too Simple)
Let's be real - nobody has time to read a 50-page research paper about nutrition. But when someone can explain "healthy eating" in a 30-second TikTok? That's appealing AF. The problem is that most complex topics actually ARE complex, and oversimplifying them can be dangerous.
Real experts are out here saying things like "it depends" and "more research is needed" while influencers are promising simple solutions to complicated problems. Guess which one sounds better when you're stressed and looking for quick fixes?
Real Talk: The Damage is Actually Serious
Health Misinformation is Literally Killing People
I wish I was being dramatic, but I'm not. During the pandemic, we watched health misinformation spread faster than actual medical information, and people made life-or-death decisions based on what they saw on social media. That's terrifying.
People are out here following extreme diets, trying dangerous "wellness" trends, and avoiding medical treatment because someone on TikTok said it worked for them. That's not inspiring - that's scary.
When Financial TikTok Goes Wrong
Don't even get me started on FinTok. Young people are making major financial decisions based on advice from content creators who aren't licensed financial advisors. We're talking about people putting their life savings into cryptocurrency or risky investments because someone with good vibes told them to.
The comments sections are full of people sharing their losses, but by then it's too late. The damage is done, and there's no accountability for the person who gave the bad advice.
Old School vs. New School Authority
Degrees vs. Followers - Who Wins?
Look, I'm not saying that everyone needs a PhD to share their thoughts online. That would be gatekeepy and honestly kind of boring. But there's a difference between sharing your personal experience and positioning yourself as an expert who people should listen to for life advice.
Traditional credentials aren't perfect - they can be exclusionary and sometimes outdated. But they do serve a purpose: they show that someone has put in the work to actually understand their field deeply. A follower count doesn't equal expertise, even though social media makes it seem like it does.
Red Flags to Watch For (Because We're Smarter Than This)
Here's your cheat sheet for spotting fake experts online:
They're selling you the "one solution" to everything
They dismiss established science without evidence
They use a lot of fancy words that don't actually mean anything
They make absolute statements about complex topics
They can't show you their actual qualifications
They get defensive when questioned
Real experts admit when they don't know something and acknowledge that most topics are more complicated than they appear.
What Platforms Are Actually Doing About It
Social media platforms are trying to combat misinformation, but honestly? It's like playing whack-a-mole. They add fact-check labels, remove some content, and tweak algorithms, but new pseudo-experts pop up faster than they can moderate them.
The real issue is that these platforms make money from engagement, not accuracy. Until that changes, we're going to keep seeing misinformation get more reach than facts.
How to Not Be Dumb Online (A Guide)
Here's how to protect yourself from falling for internet "experts":
Actually check people's credentials
Ask yourself if they're trying to sell you something
Cross-reference information with legitimate sources
Be suspicious of anything that sounds too good to be true
Remember that complex problems rarely have simple solutions
Most importantly: just because someone is confident doesn't mean they know what they're talking about.
The Future is Complicated But We'll Figure It Out
The internet isn't going back to how it was before, so we need to get smarter about how we use it. That means developing better critical thinking skills, demanding accountability from content creators, and remembering that not everything we see online is true just because it's said with confidence.
We also need to find ways to elevate actual experts while still allowing space for diverse voices and experiences. It's a balancing act, but I have faith that Gen Z is smart enough to figure it out.
The key is being more intentional about who we choose to trust and why. Just because someone has a million followers doesn't mean they're qualified to change your life. Sometimes the most important question you can ask is: "What makes this person an expert on this topic?"
Conclusion
The whole internet expertise problem isn't just about one person or one platform - it's about how we've fundamentally changed the way we think about authority and expertise. We've created a system where charisma and confidence can masquerade as competence, and the consequences are real.
But here's the thing: we have the power to change this. We can choose to be more critical consumers of information, demand better from the platforms we use, and support actual experts who are doing the hard work of understanding complex topics.
The internet gave us amazing opportunities to learn from diverse voices and perspectives. Let's make sure we're using those opportunities wisely instead of falling for every confident person with a ring light.
