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If you're looking for an expose of the influencer lifestyle, you'll be disappointed. Glamour senior editor Stephanie McNeal admits to being a fan of the three mega-successful influencers who are the main focus of the book, although she isn't blind to the flaws of a profession that requires its adherents to “perform authenticity.” She also digs a bit into the racial gap in the earnings of white and Black influencers; and the questionable impact that “mommy blogging” has on children who never consented to have their life monetized. But she concludes that we should be glad that new Gen Z influencers are carrying on the tradition (using TikTok instead of Instagram), because “influencers matter.” In my humble Boomer opinion, the whole lifestyle reeks of late capitalism at its worst.

I am grateful to McNeal for introducing me to the GOMI (Get Off My Internet) site that curates snark and vitriol towards internet celebrities. Book subject Shannon Bird's influencer empire began to topple when GOMI called out her tone-deaf white-privileged post about calling 911 emergency services because she ran out of baby formula at 2 a.m. Yes, she really did that. And sent the police back to the store when they delivered cow's milk instead of Enfamil!