Influencers And The Gentrification Of NYC
Do you ever walk around your neighborhood and wonder what happened to the stores and “spots” you used to love? The mom and pop shops that once gave the area its soul are now being replaced by big-name franchises and trendy new businesses. New buildings go up, and the people and communities who gave the neighborhood its identity are being pushed out. This, in simple terms, is gentrification. Gentrification happens when wealthier people move into lower-income neighborhoods, causing property values to rise. As investment pours in, so does change, but not always for the better. Longtime residents often cannot afford to stay, leading to displacement and the breakdown of close-knit communities. What was once a vibrant, culturally rich area becomes unrecognizable. While some call it progress, for many it feels like a loss. A loss of history, connection, and home. Gentrification kills culture, people who move to the area do not have as much history in the area as someone who is a native.
Gentrification is not new and has been around for ages, the process happens over time but now with social media gentrification is taking a new form. Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram are helping with the increase of gentrification. The content that people post influences other people to move into areas just for the aesthetic, not knowing much about the culture,
Some influencers are referred to as NYC influencers/transplants. These are usually people who come to NYC for college or rich suburbans from different states moving into NYC.
Influencers will usually go to places that have already existed with the culture of people living there and “discover” new spots. This raises prices by putting these neighborhoods in the forefront and now becoming a target for gentrification. The more people who engage with the content the more it attracts wealthy corporations, people etc. And attracts people who are just looking for a “cool” place to live. A lot of these influencers are usually not respectful of the culture of the city and will usually bash the natives online. Examples of this phenomenon is Jamaica Avenue, South Bronx, Fordham road, williamsburg. Bushwick etc .These neighborhoods have an abundance of immigrants who have lived there for generations building the culture and making it what it is today. Walking down these neighborhoods does not feel the same as it used to be. New buildings being put up, but are vacant or too pricey for people to live in. The rebranding of South Bronx to SoBro is another indication of gentrification worsening due to social media. The changing of names that already existed to make it more appealing to the masses. The residents of South Bronx voiced their concerns online on how this can affect there livelihood and affordability of the area. It is also cultural erasure.
NYC is a city filled with different cultures and people from all over the world. It is a melting pot with a rich history and culture. It is the place that everyone wants to be. NYC being diverse is what makes it what it is today. With gentrifiers moving in and not making themselves a part of the culture and changing things around kills the purpose of what is NYC