Whether disparaged as digital era counterparts to celeb-socialites--or fervently upheld as a new breed of opinion leader--social media “influencers” are reconfiguring our society and economy in profound ways. This panel takes seriously the role of influencers in the production and circulation of cultural content across diverse digital contexts. The panelists, who span disciplinary as well as geographic boundaries, examine influencer subgenres on such platforms as Instagram, Twitch, and Tumblr. The papers address both macro-level issues--such as emergent industrial codes and gender ideologies--as well as the socio-cultural practices of particular networked communities (e.g., fashion/lifestyle Instagrammers, game streamers, NSFW Tumblr bloggers) to provide a nuanced treatment of influencer subcultures. Together, this panel probes the sprawling influencer ecosystem while contributing to a broader conversation about the cultures, politics, and economies of influence in the social media age.
