2026-10-19T06:00:12Zhttps://ebyu-rdlopen.rawdatalibrary.net/oai/requestoai:ebyu-rdlopen.rawdatalibrary.net:ebyu/185412026-10-18T20:56:37Zopenairedrivercom_ebyu_10000col_ebyu_10001User Experiences Regarding the Decision to Follow and Leave InfluencerAkın, MustafaTOKAY, Seher BüşraİletişimHalkla İlişkilerThis article explores the reasons why followers decide to follow or quit influencers. The research method is ethnography. Interviews were held on the influencer that 16 social media users followed and left. In the analysis, two situations emerge under three main headings (development, purpose, and reality). It is motivating and enlightening when influencers support the personal development of followers. It is superficial and hegemonic when they deprive its follower of development. It is directive and selective in the promotion of useful products. When their commercial purposes come to the fore, they are deceptive and brand-oriented. They are sincere and at peace with themselves in personal transparency. Manicure life and inflated ego come to the picture when they set up fake life. The influencers should look for success at intersections with their followers. Keeping themselves in the foreground instead of sincerity after achieving fame overshadows their success. When the influencer makes the users feel like they are among them, the audience increases and gains the users’ hearts.2021Articlehttps://rdlopen.rawdatalibrary.net/r/ebyu/18541https://doi.org/10.17680/erciyesiletisim.8854991308-3198trErciyes İletişim Dergisiinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessinfo:eu-repo/semantics/articlehttps://ebyu-rdlopen.rawdatalibrary.net/tr/items/ebyu/18541