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People vs. Karen, Part 4: What Exactly Is A 'Mominfluencer'?
Defendant Katie Sorensen, left, listens to her defense attorney Charles Dresow during the first day of her trial in Sonoma County Superior Court in Santa Rosa on Tuesday, April 18, 2023.
(
Christopher Chung
/
The Press Democrat
)
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35:14
Nury & The Secret Tapes: Part 4
In the year since the L.A. City Council tape scandal, a lot has changed. Efforts are underway to reform the redistricting process. Nury Martinez and Gil Cedillo are gone from the council. Only Kevin De León remains. Progressive shifts in the council are influencing its policies, and new elected members are working to forge a new way forward in L.A. This is the last episode of Nury & The Secret Tapes. Support LAist Today: https://LAist.com/donate Go to Hellofresh.com/50imperfect and use code 50imperfect for 50% off plus 15% off the next 2 months! Grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at SHOPIFY.COM/paradise Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live. This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.
Topline:
In the final episode of Imperfect Paradise: People vs Karen, we dive into the prosecutor's legal strategy — that Katie Sorensen was an influencer who fabricated a sensational story to go viral. We also explore how "mominfluencers" make money — and sometimes spread misinformation.
Where did mominfluencers come from? They began as mommy bloggers in the early 2000s who primarily wrote about the dark/un-sunny sides of motherhood. Then they took to Instagram and became more image-oriented — and picture perfect.
How do mominfluencers make money? Through sponsored posts and affiliate links that they entice their audience to click/purchase by creating a parasocial bond — the feeling that you really know this person and therefore trust her recommendations.
How do some of them spread disinformation? "I think it's really easy for mothers to disseminate [conspiracy theories] in ways that, like, screaming men on 4chan cannot," said Sara Petersen, author of Momfluenced: Inside the Maddening, Picture-Perfect World of Mommy Influencer Culture. "I mean, I trust this woman to recommend child-friendly dinner recipes. Like maybe there's something to it."
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
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