Meet the Creator Who Calls Out Food Influencers - and Has the Internet Divided

"A 2025 survey by Nation's Restaurant News and Belle Communications found that about 73% of millennial and Gen Z diners visit restaurants based on social media reviews. Search for "New York City Semma review" to find feedback on one of the city's most acclaimed Indian spots, and you'll see TikTok videos appear in the results before written reviews from The New York Times and The Infatuation. The way we learn about restaurants has changed, and as a result, a notable degree of power has been handed to food lovers on the internet."

"This more democratic system allows many individuals to share their perspectives, but it can also lead to the rapid spread of information that may not be subject to formal review or adhere to editorial standards. Anyone can post a restaurant review on Instagram or TikTok, and many self-appointed critics have built audiences of hundreds of thousands or even millions of followers by sharing their opinions on the food they try."

"Known online as @daadisnacks, NYC-based small business owner Jay, who prefers not to disclose his full name, has accomplished what many social media users try and fail to do: build a large online following for his brand in a relatively short period of time. Jay's audience has expanded rapidly over the course of just one year. His TikTok and Instagram pages both bear the name of and represent his South Asian popcorn company, Daadi, which sells a packaged snack seasoned with a recipe from his grandmother, the eponymous Daadi, a term for grandmother."

Social media now directs dining choices for a large share of millennial and Gen Z diners, with about 73% relying on social media reviews. Search results increasingly show TikTok videos before traditional outlets like The New York Times and The Infatuation, shifting influence toward online food lovers. The democratization of food criticism enables many voices but also allows rapid spread of unvetted information. Anyone can post reviews and attract large audiences. An NYC small-business owner known as @daadisnacks built a fast-growing following and publicly criticizes influencers for harmful review practices, while debate persists over his approach.

Read at Yahoo Life