Having A Large Platform Doesn’t Always Confer Credibility or Character

A large platform means a person is highly visible, not necessarily credible.

By Jennifer R. Farmer

There is something about our culture that idolizes those with power and money. Sometimes, when we see wealthy or powerful people, we confer upon them qualities that they haven’t earned and do not deserve. And sometimes when we see people with large online followings, we may make assumptions that are far from the truth.

We may think that such people are somehow smarter or better than us. But each of us has inherent worth. We may have fewer resources and followers, but we are still worthy. Here are five things that I remind myself, and you should too:

1. Power and wealth doesn’t make people error-proof or the authority on all things.

We do not need to be obsessed with the lives of celebrities and influencers simply because they have more money than us, or because they have more power. They are people who are subject to fail, just like the rest of us.

2. It is easy to project on celebrities and people of means our own hopes and dreams.

We look at our lives, which seem so complicated, and long for escape. We create fictional ideas of who people are and those ideas suite our own interests. But I wonder if we could acknowledge that just because a person is thriving in one area, doesn’t mean they are thriving in other areas. And just because a person has a big bank account doesn’t mean they are worthy of being listened to in all situations and on all topics.

3. We have a small window into the lives of others.

We see what they want us to see. We have no clue whether the image they project is accurate. We see their representatives but that doesn’t mean we know the real person.

4. It is imperative that we do our homework prior to entering business relationships.

We cannot be so eager to entertain a new opportunity or relationship that we dispense with due diligence. It doesn’t matter how large a person’s platform is – platform isn’t indicative of character.

5. Finally, a platform does not confer trust in all situations.

A large platform means a person is highly visible, not necessarily credible. It doesn’t mean that a person is an authority on all topics. It doesn’t mean they operate ethically. It means that they have ample opportunity to get in front of large audiences.

Some of the most beautiful people I’ve met are ordinary, salt of the earth people – they may have just a handful of followers if they are on social media at all. And that’s okay. The thing to remember is that having a large platform doesn’t always equate to credibility or character.