Expert vs. influencer advice - who's actually more trustworthy in different fields?

This whole debate centers around epistemic authority (who we deem credible enough to trust). I've studied this professionally for years. The issue isn't credentials vs popularity - it's about appropriate domains of knowledge. A dietitian understands nutrition science but may not grasp the psychological/practical hurdles of weight loss that a successful fitness influencer has personally overcome. Conversely, that same influencer might spread dangerous nonsense about vaccine efficacy where formal training is crucial. Both can be valuable in their proper context! The real skill is knowing which source suits which problem

omgggg this!!! i literally CANNOT with these "experts" sometimes!!! my dermatologist kept pushing these super $$$ creams for my cystic acne for YEARS and nothing worked. then i followed this girl on insta who recommended cutting dairy + using benzoyl peroxide and boom - clear skin in 6 weeks?!? like whyyyy didn't the "expert" with the fancy degree just tell me that?? sometimes real life > textbooks periodt 💅

When my kid got diagnosed with T1 diabetes, we joined online communities full of parents sharing practical tips. Found more usable day-to-day advice there than from medical team. BUT we still rely on endo for medical decisions/prescription adjustments. It's not either/or - it's both. The parents have lived experience doctors lack. The doctors have medical knowledge parents lack. Both valuable for different aspects of managing the condition

Most doctors get shockingly little nutrition training (like <20 hrs total in my program). So when they give nutrition advice, they're often NOT speaking from expertise! Meanwhile some (NOT ALL) nutrition influencers have done deep research on specific topics. The credential isn't what matters - it's whether the person actually studied that SPECIFIC subject in depth

Worked for major beauty influencer (500k+ followers). Everything is FAKE FAKE FAKE. The "miracle products" she "discovered"? Paid placements. Before/after pics? Filters + lighting tricks. "Natural beauty routine"? Botox + fillers + professional treatments she hides from followers. The whole industry is a lie. At least with experts, there's some accountability. With influencers, it's just whoever tells the most convincing story

if ur house on fire u call firefighter not some rando with fire TikTok account. If u want makeup tips u watch beauty guru not read research paper. Common sense ain't common i guess 🤦‍♂️

There's something nobody's addressing here: many "expert vs influencer" situations are actually EXPERT VS CORPORATION. Example: baby sleep training. Pediatricians (experts) often give generic advice because they're seeing 30+ patients daily. Mom influencers spend hours crafting detailed guides for followers. The difference isn't expertise - it's TIME and ATTENTION. Our healthcare system doesn't allow most experts to share their knowledge effectively

"Experts" are paid by Big Pharma/Big Food/Big Whatever to keep you sick and buying products. Influencers at least aren't part of this corrupt system. Do your own research and stop blindly trusting people with degrees from institutions funded by the same corporations profiting from your illness!!! Connect the dots people!!!

Fascinating question! I've seen this from both sides as someone who's interviewed/worked with many experts and influencers. The BEST in both categories share one quality: intellectual humility. They're upfront about what they know vs don't know, willing to change positions with new evidence, and transparent about their limitations. The WORST in both categories present with absolute certainty regardless of evidence depth. Focus on finding those with humility rather than specific credentials

my take - trust experts for "is this true?" and influencers for "how do i actually do this?" like my trainer (instagram fitness dude) gives me workout plans that WORK but sometimes says scientific stuff that's total BS. my doctor gives correct medical facts but her exercise advice is so basic it's useless. different tools for different jobs ¯_(ツ)_/¯

I run a nutrition clinic and honestly get so frustrated with this debate. It's not EITHER experts OR influencers. The best approach is finding credentialed experts who also communicate well through modern channels. They exist! Look for dietitians/doctors/etc who have social platforms but still cite research and admit limitations. You don't have to choose between academic knowledge and accessible presentation - demand both!

So i never post here but i AM an influencer (600k+ beauty/lifestyle) and felt i needed to respond. We aren't all devils and experts aren't all angels lol. I CONSTANTLY refer followers to dermatologists for serious skin issues. Most responsible creators know our lane! The problem is incentives - rage/extreme claims = more engagement = more money. Algorithms literally reward the worst behavior from both experts AND influencers. blame the platforms not the people tbh