A new Korean reality show sees the country’s hottest social media stars competing for 300 million won (roughly £171,663) in a ‘diabolical’ programme that sees them create the perfect Instagram photo, host livestreams and dish out likes (and dislikes) to other contenders.
The Big Brother-esque format starts with 77 online creators – who wear digitised collars that show the number of followers they have – who must ‘prove their influence’ until there is a ‘final survivor’.
The Influencer, which is now streaming on Netflix, has already sparked comparisons to dystopian fictional worlds, including Battle Royale and the Hunger Games online.
Participants range from seasoned Korean YouTubers like Risabae – who has a make-up channel with more than 2.26 million subscribers – to smaller creators on Shorts apps like TikTok, including Needmorecash, who has 487,500 followers on the platform.
Actor and singer Jang Keun-suk, 37 – who has been in showbiz since 1997 – also features, sparking comments from other influencers that it’s ‘unfair’ to include a newbie online creator who’s already famous for an established career.
A new Korean reality show sees the country’s hottest social media stars competing for 300 million won (roughly £171,663) in a ‘diabolical’ programme that sees them create the perfect Instagram photo, host livestreams and dish out likes (and dislikes) to other contenders. Pictured: Creator sia_jiwoo
Reminiscent of a Black Mirror episode, each contestant is introduced via a personalised stage entrance branding their collars in episode one.
Soon, their rankings are revealed, and the follower counts on their collars are instead converted into monetary worth – hence placing a target on those with the biggest followings.
The net marketing value of everyone present racks up to a whopping 400 billion won – which is around £229 million.
After the first introduction, the show reveals that The Influencer will feature five rounds – and only 30 of the 77 in the room will make it through the first round.
Quickly, divisions and alliances begin, with a rift between traditional long-form creators and newer TikTok and Instagram stars more evident than ever.
The Guardian has rated the programme three stars out of five, with Rebecca Nicholson writing that the social media format sometimes doesn’t translate as easily into the human world.
‘Certain messages emerge from the twists and turns of the gameshow format. It rewards attention,’ she added.
‘Early on, attention is shown to be most easily achieved through noisy lies. Truth doesn’t matter if a statement draws all eyes towards you. This is a sensitive time for online myths and falsehoods that catch fire.
Actor and singer Jang Keun-suk, 37 (pictured right) – who has been in showbiz since 1997 – also features, sparking comments from other influencers that it’s ‘unfair’ to include a newbie online creator who’s already famous for an established career
The net marketing value of everyone present racks up to a whopping 400 billion won – which is around £229 million
In a YouTube trailer for The Influencer from Netflix K-Content , comments were mixed with messages of excitement for the show while others slammed the ‘dehumansing’ and ‘weird’ show as a ‘real life Black Mirror’ episode
‘If you want to feel low-level despair about how and why we got here, then The Influencer should fill in some of the gaps.’
And the reception from online viewers appears no less wary.
‘Dude there is a show on Netflix called The Influencer that makes people wear collars with their social media follower number on them,’ one penned. ‘What the f**k.’
Another sarcastically expressed: ‘Sounds like a thrilling reality TV show! Who needs a crown when you can have the title of “Most Influential”?
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The Influencer, which is now streaming on Netflix , has already sparked comparisons to dystopian fictional worlds, including Battle Royale and the Hunger Games online
‘It’s like a modern-day Hunger Games, but with more selfies and fewer arrows.’
‘There has never been a more diabolical variety show than The Influencer,’ another remarked.
‘Who tests human’s limits of prudency and self-worth. Like, they quite literally did a human-auction-style of choosing a teammate and the stars wore collars the battle-royale-style.
‘Insanity. Netflix is nuts.’
One commenter also said: ‘It was only a matter of time before a show like this was made I suppose…’
Elsewhere in a YouTube trailer for The Influencer from Netflix K-Content, comments were mixed with messages of excitement for the show while others slammed the ‘dehumansing’ and ‘weird’ show as a ‘real Black Mirror’ episode.
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