Having a large following for its own sake, rather than as a consequence of some significant achievement or contribution to the wider world is compensatory in nature.
It seeks to compensate for a lack of substance or meaning and instead to game social networks to create the ‘illusion’ of fame.
Influencers are often young people with little or no experience, training, or expertise in the subjects upon which they comment.
Having millions of followers is not a substitute for years of real-life experience, nor a guarantee of emotional maturity, spiritual insight, or high intelligence.
In today’s world, a large following doesn’t necessarily mean anything, except that you spend a lot of time online!
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
