"These videos, each with tens or hundreds of thousands of views, are part of an increasingly popular genre of "weather influencers," as Americans increasingly turn to social media for news and weather updates. People pay more attention to influencers on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok than to journalists or mainstream media, a study by the Reuters Institute and the University of Oxford found in 2024."
"While some of these influencers have no science background, many of the most popular ones are accredited meteorologists. One of the most viewed digital meteorologists-or weather influencers-is Ryan Hall, who calls himself "The Internet's Weather Man" on his social media platforms. His YouTube channel, Ryan Hall, Y'all, has more than 3 million subscribers. Max Velocity is another. He's a degreed meteorologist, according to his YouTube bio, who has 1.66 million followers."
Widely viewed sensational headlines and videos accompanied New York City's largest snowstorm in years, fueling attention to a growing genre of weather influencers on social platforms. People increasingly use YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok for news and weather, with studies showing influencers often draw more attention than mainstream journalists. In the U.S., about 20% of adults get news or weather via social media. A mix of creators now cover extreme weather, including accredited meteorologists with large followings such as Ryan Hall, Max Velocity, and Reed Timmer. Rising popularity reflects low public trust in mainstream media and demand for immediate, engaging updates for a social-first audience.
Read at Fast Company
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