What goes around comes back around.

What goes around comes back around.

By Jarrad Terry

Everything comes at a price, there is always exchange and trade within deals and giving. Almost nothing in this world is free, we all give a return to something we receive. Form companies buying data, shoppers buying clothes and gifts exchanged for gifts.

We can see a gift for gift in all different occasions and settings. When you buy someone a birthday, Christmas or any occasion gift we all expect a gift or some kind of exchange in return. Personally I feel obligated to return a gift if I have received one also I feel I should receive a gift in return if I have brought someone something. This concept isn’t just for special events, it can be on social media and everyday interactions. Certain exchanges aren’t always even trades as this could be seen in kids' presents as they may not have access to buy gifts, but they can show feelings backs through love and affection towards the gift giver.

When we sign up to accounts or for email notifications to different websites we are basically giving these companies our personal data to a company who can now sell our information to different company who want our information.  

On social media we can see exchanges for example ‘like for like’ and follow for a follow’ these help users gain more likes and followers. Social exchanges are very common these days on social media as every party benefits in most deals. Most users who are trying to be someone on social media are chasing ‘Clout’ to grow a bigger online profile and influence. These concepts are a ‘let me help you, help me’ scenario.

Fig 1, Rapper Playboi Carti wearing ‘clout’ glasses
https://www.gq.com/story/kurt-cobain-sunglasses-clout-coggles

Looking at the bigger picture of social media influencers, popular influencers sell their own products or promote a company’s product. If a promoter can direct someone to buy a product or their own they receive a percentage for items sold this is an example of exchange of product for the money. This leads to progress with continuing to sell a brand's products leads to being held onto for the growth and influencer has.

Refrences 

Gayomali, C. (2017, November 27). What Is Clout? An Explainer for Olds. Retrieved from GQ: https://www.gq.com/story/cloutsplainer

Woolf, J. (2017, July 25). The White Sunglasses You’re Seeing Everywhere Have a New Name. Retrieved from GQ: https://www.gq.com/story/kurt-cobain-sunglasses-clout-coggles