One Size Fits None - The Tale of False Fitness Influencer Advertising

"Everybody strives to live an active lifestyle. It may be a brisk walk or a hot yoga class, but nevertheless exercise is a focus for a large part of society. When media was established, this necessity grew exponentially, creating jobs for the experts in this field, also known as influencers. Fitness gurus have ruled the centuries in the media. From the famous Billy Banks in the 90s to 2020's Blogilates, the workout saga has only been on the rise."

"Chloe Ting was to be one of them. Ting was prominent for her viral "2 Week Shred" program, where she guaranteed abs and a toned boy in less than 14 days. Her 2020 tutorial to begin her program gained Ting 38 million views on YouTube and subsequently 29.5 million subscribers on the video app. As more and more influencers came into the picture, Ting's popularity and fandom was slowly being thrown in the fire,"

"During the COVID 19 pandemic of 2020, the world needed some extra motivation more than any time before. With quarantine restrictions and the closure of gyms globally, the influx of virtual fitness influencers became a reliance for more than half of the population. This new era also brought speculation and criticism towards the increase of workout posts. In turn, "cancel culture" grew, and various influencers fell with it."

Fitness influencers experienced a major surge as people sought at-home exercise during 2020 pandemic lockdowns. Quarantine restrictions and gym closures pushed many to rely on virtual workouts, fueling rapid growth and careers for online fitness personalities. Increased visibility prompted scrutiny, growing 'cancel culture' and criticism of unrealistic promises and programs. Chloe Ting became emblematic of viral fitness trends with her "2 Week Shred" program, earning tens of millions of views and millions of subscribers before critics labeled the workouts unattainable. Her daily viewership later dropped sharply. Three students shared personal experiences related to these phenomena.

Read at Her Campus