KU student influencers turn social media presence into opportunities
From outfit checks to product reviews to “Get Ready With Me” videos, social media influencers have changed how people share their daily lives. Platforms like TikTok allow creators to shape trends, build audiences and open doors for future endeavors. At the University of Kansas, some students are doing just that: using their platforms to connect with others while balancing life as full-time college students.
Senior journalism student Sydney Wiencek is known for her laid-back, relatable content on TikTok. Starting with fashion videos and snippets of her daily life in high school, her content quickly gained traction. Now, her online presence sometimes carries over into her everyday life.
“Oh yeah, I never know what to say, it’s like, ‘Oh my gosh I watch you on TikTok!’” said Wiencek regarding students coming up to her on campus. “I go, ‘Thank you, thanks, thank you.’ I don’t know, it’s so awkward.”
Her content has since expanded beyond fashion and lifestyle to include viral product reviews and conversational videos. As her audience grows, so do the opportunities that come with it.
“It’s definitely something I use when applying for jobs,” Wiencek said. “I think TikTok can be used for leverage for things like that obviously where it’s like you already have a following, so you’re a step ahead for any other ventures you want to do.”
Similarly for junior User Interface Design/User Experience Design student Nathan Wituk, posting on TikTok began as something fun but turned into something more meaningful. His content mixes humor with storytelling, often giving viewers a glimpse into his life as a college student.
But behind the posts, Wituk says there are challenges, especially when it comes to maintaining balance.
“I think the balance overall of social media is very, very important for mental health reasons,” Wituk said. “I think that if you’re consuming too much or if you’re posting too much and creating too much, it can hinder academic performance.”
Despite the hurdles, Wituk says sharing his life online has provided unexpected benefits: reflection and perspective.
“I’ve definitely learned a lot about myself through social media because I get to look back and reflect on pretty much every moment of my life that I’ve posted about,” Wituk said. “Being able to look back at yourself and see how far you’ve come and see kind of how you’ve grown as a person is super, super valuable.”
As social media continues to evolve and audiences continue to grow, the reality of social media influence is not always what it seems. For Wiencek, the experience has reshaped her understanding of fame.
“Being someone who has, like, a significant amount of followers now really just makes me realize no one’s really famous,” Wiencek said. “Everyone’s actually just a real person which is something I’m still trying to wrap my head around.”
Watch the segment here:
