In my personal opinion, I do not believe we should be so surprised at the fact that influencers have such a power. They push propaganda out one way or another on a constant basis. In fact, it was my goal to to get sponsors for our podcast which meant that I would be paid to read advertisements on each episode. I would be directly influencing my audience to purchase a product and possibly be placed in a contractual agreement to only say good things about said product. If celebrities can push skin care products onto their fans, how could we not see them trying to convince their fans that a vaccine will cause bodily harm in the long-term. They built a trust that cannot be broken unless their audience can be skeptical enough to not take the bait. Influencers need to be aware of the impact they have on their audience and need to do their parts in ensuring that all information they share is validated and confirmed by trusted sources.

Publishers' announcement of Evan Lloyd's Epistle to David Garrick, 9 Jan. 1773. McGuffie, p. 101.