Influencer

About 15 years ago if someone was called an "influencer," it often implied a negative manipulation or control over others, perhaps in a secretive or even slightly sinister way. It suggested someone was pulling strings behind the scenes.

Now, the term is almost entirely associated with social media personalities who build an audience and then leverage that platform to promote products, services, prostitution through only fans, or lame scam ideas. It's become a mainstream career path, and "influencer marketing" is a significant part of exploitation and advertising strategies.