Apparently, we’ve reached peak 2019 because there is now a university course in how to become a social media influencer.
I’ll give you a moment to process this.
The Mohammed bin Rashid School for Communication (MBRSC) at the American University in Dubai is offering students “a full-time diploma course in being a social media influencer.” Because apparently, the fine art of swiping, scrolling and racking up Insta likes requires an actual diploma.
Ali Jaber, Dean of MBRSC, said “the program was developed by an elite group of university professors with different specialisations in media, strategic communications, journalism, and media innovation. It will cover all aspects of social media through six courses.”
According to Her Excellency Mon Al Marri, President of the Dubai Press Club, “the programme comes in line with Dubai’s vision to develop and empower talented individuals in various fields and enhance their role and contributions in the advancement of their communities.”
“The launch of the first academic programme of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region for social media influencers will have a direct positive impact on media content being produced on social media platforms across the region,” she added.
Is this just a really fancy way of saying ‘the course is going to teach you how to nail an Instagram pic, get the #Dubai hashtag poppin’ and hopefully make some money off it?”
In all fairness, Dubai is very Instagram-worthy and probably already swarming with social media influencers hoping to make it big. Perhaps the MBRSC is just giving the people what they want.
However, I’m not sure how great the skills section of a résumé will look if it reads: “Really, really, really good at using hashtags and making people buy the stuff I post about.”
No shade, but it feels like every man and his dog is trying to be an Instagram influencer these days – is it worth racking up another HECS debt for?