Sellers, Shifters, Sharers & Science Communicators: The initial beliefs and positions of fitness influencers and creators on Instagram

Abstract

This article investigates the initial beliefs about social media held by fitness influencers and content creators. As influencers and content creators continue to play a growing role in mediating our social world, who invests in this work, and why, becomes increasingly important. Using semi-structured interviews with 41 fitness influencers and creators, this article identifies four typologies of initial belief: Science Communicator, Seller, Shifter, and Sharer. Differences in beliefs were explained in part by the variety of social positions held by influencers and creators within the fitness industry. Relying on Pierre Bourdieu’s concepts of social position and belief, this article aims to create a more generalizable account of who influencers and creators are, and why they continue to believe investments in social media are worth it.