How often do you get questions from clients about something they saw on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok?
Yes, this is a very real problem, and you need to tackle it head-on.
Influencer nutrition misinformation isn’t going away, so the goal isn’t to “win arguments”; it’s to build trust, foster critical thinking, and build resilience in your clients.
Influencer logic isn’t new and it’s not going away anytime soon. To deal with it head-on, first you must understand why it’s so effective. It is formulated from normal human reasoning optimized for speed and emotion, influencer logic, and uses social cues that allow it—influencers to package it perfectly and scale it massively.
It’s essential to understand the influencer’s logic:
- Likes, followers, and comments act as social proof: If everyone else believes it, it must be right.
- Confidence is also treated as proof, and certainty feels like competence.
- Relatability replaces credentials; “They’re just like me” feels more trustworthy than “they studied this for 10 years.”
- Clean rules and bold claims beat nuanced reality, even when nuance matters.
- Content is designed to play to emotional moments: insecurity, fear, ambition, belonging, and self-esteem.
The first rule in addressing influencer-influence is to remember that not every claim needs to be corrected or deserves your attention. Be okay with letting harmless noise alone.
Correct only when it’s necessary. That means instances when:
- It affects your client’s safety
- It increases your client’s guilt/fear
- It promotes extreme restrictions or disordered behaviors
- It undermines your client’s progress
Remember always to de-escalate, not debate, and to gently rebuild trust in what’s real, evidence-informed, science-based nutritional advice.
Here are some practical, client-friendly tools to help you combat influencer influence on your clients.