It’s no secret that social media stars have become the new wave of A-listers, shaping pop culture and entertainment in real time. With millions of followers across platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram, they wield immense influence and continue to redefine the concept of celebrity.

Their crossover into mainstream media further proves their reach. Traditional entertainment has not only acknowledged their impact but also embraced them, recognizing their value beyond social media and into television, film, and brand partnerships.

Unlike conventional celebrities, social media influencers tend to attract a younger, highly engaged audience. By bringing them onto prime-time TV shows, networks tap into a fresh, digital-savvy demographic, boosting viewership and engagement while also providing influencers with even greater exposure and career opportunities.Need help in doing so? Here at Influencer Matchmaker, we can help brands looking to feature talent and social media influencers on their shows, so look no further!

Traditional TV shows utilising a more modern generation 

Over the last couple of years, TV shows have been beginning to welcome people other than the traditional celeb onto their shows.

But what exactly is the benefit of this? 

Well, social media stars tend to have millions of followers who are typically of a generation that maybe aren’t all too familiar with traditional TV shows. Many of which, are aimed at a slightly older generation and by utilising some of the most influential people online, they are also opening their doors to a brand-new audience.

Social media influencers have incredibly loyal followers and more often than not, they follow all aspects of the influencer’s life, waiting in anticipation for their next move.

And in doing so, these TV shows are strategically increasing their own audience, viewing ratings and engagement. 

Are influencers the new reality TV stars? 

Many prime-time shows have welcomed famous faces to their line-ups in the form of social media influencers. 

The most pivotal being Joe Sugg appearing on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2018. Joe was one of the first social media stars to appear on such a show and made quite the impact. 

As mentioned in a previous blog of ours, Strictly Come Dancing almost doubled its social media presence on Twitter, with almost 90,000 posts being made about the show in a three-week period during September. And with an impressive 19,000 tweets about Joe Sugg alone, it is no wonder that the show saw such an increase – and that isn’t a coincidence.

Since Joe’s appearance on the show, it has led to other shows of a similar vein also involving social media stars, and this has been the case year on year ever since.

Strictly Come Dancing, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here and Dancing on Ice are just three of the main prime-time shows that have welcomed social media influencers with open arms, and are continuing to reap the rewards of sky-high viewing ratings and increasing awareness of their already popular shows. 

What’s next? 

Since 2018, we’ve seen the likes of YouTube sensation Saffron Barker take on the Strictly dance floor, following in fellow content-creator Joe Sugg’s footsteps. Saffron was a huge hit on the show and as a vlogger, she also created content for her own social media channels, that also helped aid promotion of the show.

And this year, musician and YouTuber HRVY is continuing the new-found reign of social media stars waltzing around the famous ballroom. 

Over recent years ITV’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! has welcomed an array of social media stars, from Georgia Toffolo to Caitlyn Jenner, and more recently, Giovanna Fletcher. 

Dancing on Ice has also featured well-known social media influencers, including Love Island’s Wes Nelson and Maura Higgins, and the newest series will see Billie Shepherd take to the ice. And it doesn’t end there, as Gogglebox also aired a celebrity special with popular YouTuber and social media star, KSI taking part.

The rise of influencers in reality TV doesn’t stop with established stars—The Traitors UK has proven to be a major platform for turning everyday contestants into social media influencers. Many of its breakout stars, such as Wilfred Webster and Mollie Pearce, have built massive followings after their time on the show, using their newfound fame to carve out careers in content creation, brand partnerships, and online entertainment. The show has become a springboard for fresh influencer talent, proving that reality TV and social media go hand in hand.

The Great British Bake Off also adds to this long-list, with Zoe Sugg taking part in The Great Comic Relief Bake Off, and as the pioneer of the influencer marketing industry, this is quite the achievement – for both the influencer and the show.

Here at Influencer Matchmaker HQ, we are thoroughly enjoying seeing the new wave of TV stars and can’t wait to see what’s to come in the future! We have no doubt it will include much more collaboration between modern and traditional media. 

 

So, it seems that social media stars are continuing to prove just how influential and powerful they are. And with more and more shows utilising social media stardom, is this the beginning of a brand-new era for prime-time television? 

What do you think? 

Not only do we create fun and authentic campaigns between brands and influencers, we can also help brands secure talent and social media influencers for shows, too! 

For more information about how you can work with influencers to promote your business, TV show, product or service, contact the influencer team on 02039 580427 or email contact@influencermatchmaker.co.uk.Â