EXCLUSIVE: Horton Rum’s New Trio Of Canned Cocktails Are Here To Save The Party

What is influencing?

If you hang out anywhere on the internet, especially on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, you are no stranger to influencing.

By definition, to influence is to do just that – “have an influence on,” but the word has taken on a whole new meaning in the modern age. It’s essentially a new(ish) marketing technique that employs social media creators to promote certain products and services.

We’ve all seen the classic examples of internet influencing on our daily scrolls. It’s a cute gal showing you her favorite beauty products through a nicely cut video, or tapping through a quick outfit check story. It’s perfectly polished ‘get ready with me’ vlogs and ‘dupe’ videos.

These appealing posts are typically marked with a “paid promotion” disclaimer alongside the content. The content of the posts or the person showing them off just makes you want to buy something – and boom, you’re influenced!

@ashlynnrudzinski don’t mind the bone in the back lol #fashiontiktok♬ original sound - Tik Toker

Though internet influencing can benefit not only the companies employing the strategy, but also the influencers themselves, more and more consumers are catching on to the idea that it’s not exactly a great model for promotion and consumption.

Influencing has become overdone – it fuels overconsumption and shopping addictions, makes the consumer feel empty and left out by determining trends, and oftentimes encourages unsustainable practices in a time where we should be interested in the opposite.

The Case for De-Influencing

For me, the term ‘de-influencing’ started popping up on the same platform that its counterpart did: TikTok. I normally get a lot of consumer-forward content on my For You Page, whether it’s makeup, gym outfit recommendations, or new food products that I need to know about. Whether the person on my screen is a paid influencer or not, the app and community surrounding it makes me feel like I need whatever they’re putting on display. So yes, influencing does work.

De-influencing aims to combat that insatiable need and craving for material things that are typically encouraged by internet influencers and trends. Users are coming out and realizing that you don't need twelve mascaras to feel prettier, you don't need fifteen different colors of the same tank top to look cooler, you don't need that limited-edition Stanley tumbler to stay hydrated.

Essentially, de-influencing is the rejection of influencer culture, which consumers have just had enough of. It feels like an extremely brave declaration, especially in our society that constantly promotes wanting more.

@ramenasaidwow#stitch with @eliseeatsplants #makeup#skincare♬ original sound - Ramena

What is de-influencing? 

All of this is not to say that buying things that make you happy is bad. It’s okay to want certain things when they’ll bring you happiness in a time when you feel down.

One small purchase here and there for the sake of your own sanity is a habit I know very well, and it's okay to feel tired, depressed and on the hunt for more in our society. One of the main motivations behind de-influencing is getting you, the consumer, to rethink your consumption habits, and reject the desire to be ‘on trend.’

Will the latest and greatest really make you feel more valued in society? Rock what you really think is cool. Rock a sustainable, small brand. Repurpose and donate your clothing. Some things you just don't need to enhance your life, though it feels like every force is working against you, especially internet influencers. There is beauty in appreciating what you already have, instead of endlessly searching for something that likely won’t fulfill you.

@basicofcourse people that are against fun little drunk purchasing are misogynists I won’t be elaborating #excessconsumption#deinfluencing#intentionalshopping#intentionalliving#funlittledrink#sustainability♬ original sound - allison

The Impact of Influencers and Consumer Culture

Trends make consumers feel left out, or obligated to participate.

TikTok is a vast breeding ground for the newest trends in beauty and fashion – this realm is where I see the most influence pushed. Though trends can be fun, the internet seems to have a new trend every other day, and keeping up with them is unrealistic.

When consumers look toward creators with large internet followings for trends, especially creators who actively promote and influence trends, the idea that they need certain things to stay in the loop gets deeply rooted.

Take last year’s Ugg Mini surge for example. The low-rise boot was pretty much everywhere I went (and scrolled). It was all the rage, and cozy outfits didn't seem complete without them. “This is your sign to get the Ugg Minis,” one creator preached. “You need these boots in your life,” another said. And this went on and on. It felt like everyone had the shoes, and I definitely contemplated grabbing myself a pair, cycling between adding them to my cart and taking them out a few days later. They’re expensive, I told myself, but I would be dressing like that one cool influencer. It sounds shallow, but it was hard not to feel like I was part of a trend – something bigger than myself – and I know others that feel the same way.

@sadgrlswag De-influencing you, no more over consumption or else 💣💥! 😡😤 #GenshinImpact34♬ original sound - Estef

@overcoming_overspending What else am I missing? Things that social media convinced us are normal but aren’t. #overconsumption#impulsebuying#implusebuyer#deinfluencing#spendingproblems#creditcarddebt#overspendingmoney#overspender#influencedbytiktok#influenced♬ original sound - Paige | Spending Coach

Influencer culture promotes unrealistic expectations for consumption.

The urge to be part of trends encourages overconsumption and shopping addictions. When we’re getting bombarded with marketing messages every day via influencers, we want something different and new every day.

TikTok’s search bar as well as Instagram’s shopping tab make it so easy to fall into a rabbit hole of capitalistic consumption: a plethora of cool-looking internet personalities promoting countless clothing items and life hack tools, makeup hauls, and it definitely goes on. After a while, staying on-trend becomes financially unrealistic. When all we see influencers post are insane PR hauls and new products every day, we want what they have, but we forget that they’re just like us – they have bills to pay, and lives to live. Like I say all the time, social media is a highlight reel. Plus, this is the influencer’s job, to post and influence you.

This element of need that’s embedded in influencer culture is quite contradictory to our generation’s pleads for sustainable practices. While we face a real climate crisis that’s fueled by production and shipping, it seems like the right thing to do to change our consumption habits to be more sustainable – but a lot of younger consumers don't really know how to practice what they preach. It’s easy to get sucked into the internet and do what it tells them to. It’s hard to not want what makes others look cool.

Big influencers often recommend fast-fashion giants like Shein to their audiences, without either stakeholder realizing the impacts of the industry. Fast fashion production contributes about 8-10% of the world’s carbon emissions, and 20% of global industrial water pollution. Not only does production itself impact the environment, but shipping goods also contributes to global carbon emissions, about 3%. Though companies are setting measurable goals to improve waste and emissions by 2050, it’s not just on them to change their habits. You can change your consumption habits at an individual level:

How To Be a More Conscious Consumer

• Think critically about your need for the item(s).
• Evaluate if the internet is just trying to sell you something.
• Research the company that’s selling the product for their mission on sustainability and practices.
• Evaluate your need for the item(s).
  • Do you already have something that serves the same purpose?
  • Could you see yourself using it every day?
  • Is it worth what you’d be paying for it?
• Try waiting a day or two before buying in order to reconsider the purchase. If it's still on your mind, then think about if it fills a necessity.

The Eggo x Sugarlands Distilling Company creation is the secret ingredient to a kickassbrunch party or holiday-inspired cocktail. You can stir it into a hot coffee for a cozy moment, or craft your own waffle-infused espresso martini. Whatever route you choose, check out some of the recipes below for inspiration!

Eggo Waffle Liqueur Cocktail Recipes

Eggo Mocha Macchiato

• 2oz Eggo Brunch in a Jar Sippin’ Cream
• 2oz cold brew
• 2oz chocolate milk
• Eggo mini waffle, for garnish

Cozy Breakfast

• 2oz Eggo Brunch in a Jar Sippin’ Cream
• 4oz hot coffee (or hot chocolate)
• Eggo mini waffle, for garnish

Bananas Foster

• 1.5oz Eggo Brunch in a Jar Sippin’ Cream
• 1oz Banana Pudding Sippin' Cream
• 1.5oz milk
• Eggo mini waffle, for garnish

Eggospresso Martini

(by Ravi Thapa, Brasserie SAINT Marc)

• .75oz Eggo Brunch in a Jar Sippin’ Cream
• 1.5oz High Rock vodka
• .75oz coffee syrup
• .75oz espresso

Morning Chaos

(by Ravi Thapa, Brasserie SAINT Marc)

• 1oz Eggo Brunch in a Jar Sippin’ Cream
• 2oz rum
• .75oz spiced chai syrup
• 2oz pineapple juice
• 1oz blood orange juice

The Maple Milkshake

(by Ravi Thapa, Brasserie SAINT Marc)

• .5oz Eggo Brunch in a Jar Sippin’ Cream
• 1.5oz Sugarlands Maple Bacon Moonshine
• .5oz Fernet Menta
• .25oz vanilla syrup

L'eggo with Eggo

(by Ravi Thapa, Brasserie SAINT Marc)

• .75oz Eggo Brunch in a Jar Sippin’ Cream
• 4oz cold brew
• Whip equal parts whipping cream with Eggo Brunch in a Jar Sippin’ Cream in a jar, then use it to top off the cold brew.

"Do you realize this July is the 20th anniversary of A Cinderella Story?" Chad Michael Murray asks the camera. "Next week, we're going to do a little Austin Ames wink and nod to at the fans. You'll see."

There are literally so many things Chad could do in honor of the anniversary, which is happening July 16. The actor has played basketball at his One Tree Hill reunions, so maybe he'd play some football. He could also break out his old costume or reenact the iconic "Waiting for you is like waiting for rain in this drought. Useless and disappointing," scene with Hilary Duff — but TBH I hope whatever he does, he does it with Hilary. This would be the reunion I've been waiting for!!

Chad Michael Murray has talked about the fun of filming A Cinderella Story in the past — and how hilarious it is his character supposedly couldn't recognize Hilary Duff in the mask. "If you go to masquerade mall and a girl you see almost every day is wearing a small mask and her entire face is exposed and you still can't recognize her, you should probably see an eye doctor... among a few other doctors," he jokes with E! News.