It's patronising to say people only buy or believe things due to influencers, argues Ruby Granger
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ม.ค. 2024
- "StudyTuber" & Oxford University student, Ruby Granger speaks in opposition of the motion that This House Regrets the Influence of Influencers.
This is the fourth speech of eight.
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I'm actually really impressed that she didn't even pitch this on her own channel. A very sweet lady and a class act.
I’m exploding with pride seeing Ruby speak!
Why? She has made an utter fool of herself.
@@phoebecaulfield4062 womp womp
@@spaceandust You seem to be as inarticulate as Ruby is.
@@phoebecaulfield4062 I'm not sure this is a fair response.
@@emaane.i1455 maybe post again when you've made up your mind?
Proud of our Ruby - Ruby Granger channel fans unite!
I am proud of Ruby, you can tell that she was nervous but the only time I had to give a speech in front of an audience in school, I nearly fainted so that's that.
I am so proud of you, Ruby. I watched you for about 6 years already on your TH-cam channel. Great work!
Crikey I’m so so proud of her - I always knew she was well spoken, but this is the definition of eloquent! Beautifully spoken, I can only dream of being this good at speaking! This topic needs so much more discussion, thank you for opening up the conversation ❤
Reading off an iPad and constantly saying "UMM" is the antithesis of being eloquent.
@@phoebecaulfield4062 i think she is not a English native speaker.Rudy’s accent perhaps seems elegant to her.As I am an English beginner,I would like to thanks for teaching me two new words,antithesis(N) and eloquent(adj) :)
@@jernjustyle You are very welcome - given you have learnt antithesis, you should learn the words that would sit alongside that. So - thesis; antithesis (which you know) and synthesis.
@@phoebecaulfield4062 you give a speech like she did, and then comment on how many times she said “um”.
@@lucy8196 I have, in the course of my professional life, often had to do public speaking engagements - and I have not read from an iPad and punctuated my address with lots of "Ums" - the reason being, I went prepared.
When David Beckham had his silly haircut back in the mid 90's, half the kids at primary school insisted to their parents that they wanted the same haircut. Influential figures are emulated by their fans. That's the power of endorsement and advertising.
You are being "hugely patronizing"
@@TerrorTerros Really? Im stating the obvious. Product placement in Bond films testifies to this phenomenon also. Wear the watch Bond wears, drink the whisky he drinks (30yr old Macallum by the way). Why do you think advertisers use film stars and sports icons to promote their products?
@@richardduplessis1090 🥰you're adorable
@@TerrorTerros That's very nice of you 🥰🍾
IKR? When Kim Kardashian became popular in Instagram, millions of girls and women rushed to the gims and started to work on their gluttal muscles. And before that, almost nobody cared about that part of the body. Being a 33 y.o woman I remember the times when heroin chic and extremely skinny women were considered the most beautiful and perfect. Giselle Bundchen and Snejana Onopka were the epitome of beauty. Everyone was on a diet and smoking considered a normal part of the diet.
Ruby hit the nail on the head. What an extraordinarily important point to raise!
i’ve been watching ruby since her GCSE and A-level days!! i remember clearly watching her oxford rejection video and now seeing her thriving at oxford and listening to her speak is AMAZING she’s such an inspiration
Very inspiring!
I'm so proud of you Ruby ❤❤❤❤❤❤
There are no words to explain my joy for you.
Congratulations, Ruby! You did a fantastic job!
Shocked that she mentioned Eugenia Cooney this is so true, well done Ruby ! I love the fact that you are exposing facts here 🎉
This is brilliant, Ruby! 👏👏👏 Your confidence flourished after a few minutes, and you truly made and established your argument. Well done commenting and questioning why we are focusing on the influencing of influencers, rather than institutions etc. Bloomin awesome! Have a magical day Ruby! And FYI Oxford...you choose an incredible person to be a student, Ruby is a student who demonstrates what Oxford is made to foster!
Ruby has more moral authority than the University of Oxford itself
@@billoddy5637 get a grip. This is the woman who shills for any company who sends her free goods, and whose activities around fund raising for Holocaust memorial day remain highly questionable
I just subscribed to OxfordUnion because of Ruby's attainment of a place in their house, proving Ruby right.
That is an amazing comment!
you did exactly what she been arguing not to
You did the opposite of what she was arguing
no bestie, you proved her wrong
You do realise that she LOST the debate?
Well done Ruby. It’s very difficult to do public debating and to do this in a filmed Oxford Union, the pressure is immense! Let’s remember her age, she did great and will learn so much from this experience.
It's a 'debate' in name only, she had to deliver a rehearsed speech - much easier. And she did it terribly.
Well said, she will learn and grow from this, putting herself out there and taking chances, she is brave and will go places!
@@teddycutler1do it yourself in Oxford then teddy
@@TheHawki235 You can only critique if you've done the thing yourself is a child's argument.
@@teddycutler1for someone named teddy, you talk a lot
So well done Ruby!!! Rooting for you!!
I really love and look up to this lady. I’ve been watching her for a fee years and growing alongside her. She is an inspiration and force of motion for other you g women like myself and a reminder of how necessary and precious education is.
So proud of her! I've been watching Ruby's channela nd constantly being motivated by her and comforted by her through many year!
Who the hack has to cough non stop jeeeez leave the room !! Great Job Ruby ❤
I really like Ruby’s TH-cam content, but it would have served her well to have more knowledge about psychology. Even since they started with commercials research has been made to see what triggers people to spend their money. Even children can be manipulated by placing colorful things at their level in the stores. These things are there due to strategy and knowledge about the human psyche.
With this said! People have a responsibility on their own, so you can’t just say ” the influencers made me but it”.
Hell yes. Very well said.
Wow I've been watching Ruby since she was in sixth form (so about 6 years!) - and this has me in absolute pieces! To see her development over the years, gosh I'm beaming with pride!
I am so immensely proud of you Ruby. Beaming with joy!
So, 9 and a half minutes are not enough to talk about this issue. In addition it's hard to judge this argument withou hearinh the previous one. However, I think there is one point missing here, and it is the algorithm. It's important because: 1, influencers are not as genuine as they used to be. Many of them openly talk about feeling forced to put out content they don't really like just to please an algorithm they do not fully understand. So we do have patrons today, but they're invisible and therfore impossible to negotiate with. 2, there is way too much content on social media to be managed. So people are not being influenced by a simple influence, but by one that is never ending and usually is a far more complex movement. 3, the algorithm abuses our psychological weaknesses. It manipulates us to a point we do lose our ability to even recognize influences
as a content creator, i wholeheartedly agree with you and these points are brilliant!
Agree! I also thought of algorithms
I’d actually argue that in reference to the first point at least when comparing the 2000s or even the 2010s to the 2020s the very act of being able to share that you are uncomfortable with what your job is or that the sponsors you have may not be as incredible as suggested is a mark of genuineness. The idea that content creators speaking about not wanting to make content now means that the ones in the past were more genuine or enjoyed their craft more is unfounded because it’s only recently that the backlash for such statements was insignificant enough for them to actually speak up. Immigrants now are a lot more vocal about their desire to go home and struggles finding safe spaces because it’s no longer a social no no, but the past immigrants did have those same desires even if they weren’t vocal about it. So I think that the capacity to share genuine feelings does not mean that they were not there initially but rather that content creation is coming to the point that you actually see the person and not just their persona.
so proud of you Ruby❤
For losing the debate? Or for being unable to string a coherent sentence together?
You are better than any MP at the moment, Ruby. You have integrity and speak so clearly, and in a calm straight forward way, very well done.
So proud of seeing you on this Ruby! Followed you on TH-cam for years (and still do)!
What an amazing and well spoken speech! So so amazing to discuss these points in today’s day and age
I’m so so proud of Ruby, I’ve grown up with her by watching her videos and she has been a huge inspiration to me! I’m so happy to see her achieving her dreams 🤎
So proud of you, Ruby! I loved learning and studying because of you.
Well done Ruby!
Influencing is the modern term for advertising. Making a product is a business. To survive as a business you need people to buy your product. You get them to do that by showing them and persuading them to buy your thing. We have many more outlets on how to reach consumers now though. We are literally bombarded with ads and sales. My Starbucks app entices me to order more by offering promotions, but do I always, no.
Wonderful, Ruby! ❤
If the earth needed to be evacuated due to impending doom like an asteroid, influencers should be left behind.
I feel so proud as well as grateful 🥺🥺
We love Ruby so much!❤❤❤🎉
Congratulations Ruby ❤🎉
Really good to watch while having your say. You will make a difference ruby.
I've been following ruby for years and It's an apotheosis to see her speaking at Oxford Union about raising awareness on influence, language and individual free will.
Great refletion about power. Congratulations, Ruby!
How i admire you Ruby!❤️
So influencing isn't that bad because a) people should be able to deconstruct the term and see it for the cynical enterprise it is and b) there are worse things elsewhere. B) is clearly ridiculous, but a) is worse because it disproves at a stroke the entire argument.
I sorta disagree with her statement that people do not buy things because influencers told them to and that thinking this way we assume they don't have autonomy and that it's usually kids who do that. What I can agree with is that this is cultural. In Bulgaria kids and teenagers DO follow trends because they compare with other people around them and they want to be relevant and avoid getting made fun of. Once we leave school, though this stops. We no longer care what others think and we are more capable of making wise choices and often that is led by having no money to be trendy. Considering most trendy stuff are expensive. We look for knock offs and alternatives. Whereas in the US the consumerism persists beyond High School and I have noticed that parents are the ones who teach their children to be trendy. Exhibit A) little girls (5-12) going to Sephora for make up. All of them are brought by their parents who spend their own money for things their children don't need. Exhibit B. Stanley cups. They all know they are not special and that they leak. However, they buy bulks because they are trendy and they are not hiding it. As soon as another influencer came up with another cup, most kids and adults finally admitted the Stanleys are trash and now are buying the other cup. Exhibit C. Booktok. Most books that are being thrown in our faces are low quality romance books or dark romance that make no sense. Everyone freaks over them and people buy them because everyone is reading THAT book. People lie about how many books they read and do hauls because other booktokers do it. People nowadays are simply programmed to be trendy. For me that's not a good reason to buy a product.
P.S why did no one throw out this coughing guy
Coughing is not against Oxford Union etiquette, it seems
I think you have a very blinkered view of the US if you think that the consumerism you see through social media represents the US as a whole.
@@billoddy5637britain has a massive problem with people young and old spewing germs everywhere like this, it’s so grim! should’ve seen what they were doing during the pandemic instead of wearing masks…
I don’t think anyone’s claimed that influencers are forcing people to buy the stuff they endorse. Ruby is trying to deflect any responsibility off herself and other influencers by trying to make it an argument about the autonomy of the audience, which it is not and never has been. It’s a question of influence. The argument she presents lacks nuance and sounds more like an attempt at defending herself, complete with whataboutism around the 7:30 mark. Oh dear.
She doesn't have to deflect any responsibility off herself because everything starts and ends with the audience/consumers. The influencers are nothing but a mirror of society. Influencers are magnets and they attract same-minded individuals therefore selling the product is mostly not the result of influencers actually convincing people to buy the products it is bought by the audience because the audience usually have the same interest as the given influencer or the same values/goals or intellect. So it can be all boiled down to this:
Most of the products that are being sold by influencers or with promotion by influencers are tightly connected to the given niche of the channel. So if people watch a channel about gaming and then they are gonna buy let's say, a keyboard that their TH-camr promotes. *Is it really the influencer influence that convinced them or is it just natural consumerism and need for the product that a given person had already an interest in before listening to the influencer?*
I can go now and watch Kim Kardashian and even if she had had some promotion on her Instagram/videos I still 100% wouldn't buy it because her influence is pointless on me because I do not share the same interests as her. So her promoting make-up to me is pointless but for a 14-year-old girl is doable. But then again IMPORTANT POINT. Was the influence of the influence role or just the audience find the person with the same interest and naturally wants the same products???
@@dsodragus4616 Influencers normalize consumerism. It has nothing to do with convincing or even forcing. Look into how the mere exposure effect works. You "naturally" want the products because you have seen the products countless times which leads to a more positive opinion of the product and of course the product is just considered normal, as in of course you're going to buy it. Doesn't everyone?
@@Aigra Yep that's partially correct but that has nothing to do with influencers. Or to be more clear even if influencers didn't have any platform the amount of products sold wouldn't have dramatically downfall. Perhaps the sales would be more evenly spread across companies.
Influencers are just a tool to target audiences and as you said correctly make products more familiar to the general public. But there are way more efficient tools and strategies to sell your product better. One that every single major company uses is to drive out your competition and you are a king of the jungle. If you are the only bakery in the town you don't need ads, influencers or anything.
That's why this debate is seriously so odd because it is such a ridiculous wide generalization that it's impossible to make any real argument.
You know saying: "Influencers normalize consumerism" - that is a very general statement. How is let's say some influencer who is promoting a primitive simple life in the woods promoting consumerism?
In reality, the truth is on both sides.
Have a nice day :)
@@dsodragus4616 "How is let's say some influencer who is promoting a primitive simple life in the woods promoting consumerism?"
There's another part of that debate where the term "influencer" is defined and that person probably wouldn't qualify. Unless you count the platform that is hosting their content and that is targeting the viewers with ads of course. Because the reality is, even if you yourself stay away from promoting a consumerist lifestyle in your content, the second you upload it and agree to the TOS of that platform what the platform does with it is not in your control anymore.
I feel her shyness and fear...she says "umm" a lot.
I get the nervousness but the „uhms“ make it harder to follow 😬
I'm a huge fan of ruby, and although this wasn't the best performance I think she's capable of, I'm still incredibly proud of her. Delivery and coherency of the argument obviously needs practice but it's saddening to see everyone criticizing her and implying that she's just trying to cover herself from criticism solely from selfishness, or that she's just 'looking for an east payday' like someone has said. I may be biased towards her, but it is objectively of poor taste to assume things about a person and to think that you can hide behind the anonymity of social media to disrespect someone, no matter if they're Ruby Granger or a random Karen, influencer or not.
Extremely well done Ruby! ❤️🥳
Of course she'd place the onus on the viewer though, she's an influencer..
very proud of you, Ruby!😊
great speech!
From watching rubys vlogs to seeing her here 💕my heart melts
Yay Ruby!!!! ❤
so proud of her, she helped me to get back into reading books
Ruby!! So proud😊😊
Great job, Ruby! Keep at it!
Omg Ruby! So proud!!!❤
Hi ruby! I would like to say that I am so proud in saying u there! I'm overflowing with so much pride seeing u speak
Ruby !! Congratulations!
Amazing Ruby!
Proud of you Ruby!!
Well done Ruby👍👍
I’m so proud of you ruby ❤❤
This feels like such a full circle moment, so proud of her
Very well done!
This is exceptionally good! It's incredibly hard to get up in front of all those people at a prestigious debate like that and come across as well and as naturally as she is doing. Even with your notes in front of you it would be very easy to crumble under the pressure and lose confidence in what you are saying. Especially when you are going against the House! Well done to Ruby.
This is funny because I’ve definitely bought things just because of Ruby 😭
Well said Ruby 🌺🌺🌺
Excellent!!!!
How does she think advertising works and why would they spend millions of dollars on celebrities to hawk products if it makes no difference? A bit naive if you ask me.
She didn't say that influence doesn't exist o that it makes no difference, she's saying that it doesn't control us. And that influencers are democratizing information.
@@emptyness7 Depends what you consider information or knowledge, they could also be democratising falsehoods. It's uncharted territory as previously you had to be in front of a TV to see advertisements. Now they are pervasive and many influencers are not even declaring they have a financial interest in the outcome.
Spot on. It's almost unbelievably naïve not to see that influencers are advertising in a far more powerful way. And I totally agree about the democratising of lies, which is only becoming more powerful with AI in the mix. @@SpatialandTemporal
@@emptyness7 They are not "democratising information" - the internet itself, by design, has done that. To the contrary, they are paid to spotlight certain information, and to ensure it is promoted in a way that garners attention. The fact there is no balance, or counterpoint is not a "democratisation" of information at all.
SO PROUD OF YOU RUBY!!!!
I love Ms. Ruby!
Go Ruby! ❤
Good to see the adoring sycophantic fan club are having such a great time.
Well, its cheaper than them all wearing Dunces caps. I can't believe the number of people who think that this performative shambles of a woman is somehow intelligent.
I would developed severe social anxiety if I knew everything I did was judged to the nth degree
yeah people should chill smh, let her live
I'd like to see whether she was reading verbatim from her notes or whether she had bullet pointsfor her main ideas. Makes a lot of difference to your delivery. I used to belong to the Debating Society at school and it is not easy to stand up before a lotof people and give n eloquent argument😮
Being part of debate club at school for a year was the best decision I ever made.
(I was more of a scientist, who knew nothing about politics, but boy was it worth it)
Being an old subscriber of her ❤its really an ecstatic moment to see her in this video
Killed it, Ruby! So proud of you!
She lost the debate! You have set the bar pretty low if this is what attains your pride.
Ruby did a great job! She made some great points. I do think I would somewhat argue against her on some parts though. Advertising is so insidious these days and even takes advantage of the way our brains work, and for that reason I don’t think it’s patronizing to say that influencers can play a huge part in consumer’s choices. It’s hard to keep our autonomy when there are powerful and intelligent corporations actively working to take it away from us and influencers are very often accomplices in that. Obviously i like Ruby and I think she is a positive influence on the internet overall, but it’s important to acknowledge that most influencers push products on their audiences that the audience doesn’t need, and because we form a parasocial relationship with them, we feel like we can trust them and therefore are very likely to fall for the gimmick.
her argument isn't super strong, but I really enjoyed the various links and commentaries she pulled from the discussion- she's the sort of student I'd love to have a seminar with.
Great job Ruby!!
awww, I love Ruby so much. I am so proud of her.
I feel influencers have so much power. They are who we watch, read and listen to
You need to broaden your tastes.
ruby!!! so proud of you ❤️🔥
Oh dear.
Congratulations, Ruby! Great to see you here! I'm one of your subscribers 😊
Just great!
Omg I’m so proud of her.
Congrats Ruby!
I'm feeling proud.
There „is no point in listing the ways that influencers have had a positive impact - I don’t think that would be a productive use of this time.“ is not exactly a sound working premise for the type of argument that is meant to be advanced… more so than anything this is a point against…
Of course, influence can be exerted in positive or negative ways. However, to influence young people into buying things they don’t actually need and they themselves have not paid for, is hugely problematic. You cannot refer to yourself as an „influencer“ whilst arguing that the profit you are making is purely based on free will. And people such as Ruby Granger DO have a very young audience - which may lead one to question as for why she did apparently never consider the responsibility that comes with what she is doing. She advertised some dodgy snake oil in one of her recent videos… which is rather concerning.
I really don't understand why arguing the case she is there to argue "wouldn't be a productive use of time." Isn't that the only reason she is there? If you don't list the positive aspects then you have no hope of countering the argument that the influence being exerted is largely negative, autonomy is the worst possible way of arguing the point because the premise of the argument she is countering is that a lot of the information being given by influencers is often _wrong_ and therefore undermines autonomy
what snake oil are you referring to? her most recent sponsors are VPNs, an e-reader app, skillshare and a deodorant company. all relevant for her audience, most of whom are students. if you engage with any of her content you can see she is deeply aware of her responsibility to her audience - her channel promotes studying, mindfulness, and veganism - she's hardly sending children to their doom. she's doing business while in university.
I will never forget her advertising a leather backpack while being vegan.
You have demonstrated with your poorly formed argument why you are in the comment section and not speaking at the Oxford Union😂
@@Fiorellandia 💀
Go Ruby!!!
Way to go Ruby!!!!❤ A job well done!
Good speech... Keep youtube channel looks better again, yours.... Be kind always...🌐🇬🇧❤
Go Ruby! ♥
Im so proud Rubyy
LET'S GO RUBY ❤❤❤❤
that is the dream journey.
Go Ruby! ♡
You are doing very well Ruby. Congratulations! This is a big step✨🙌🏻✨ 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
yay go ruby!!!!