Fool Coverage: "2016 Influencers vs 2026 Influencers… Who’s Better?"

Podcast: Fool Coverage with Manny MUA and Laura Lee
Date: January 30, 2026
Hosts: Manny MUA & Laura Lee
Runtime covered: Approx. 01:11–70:43

Overview

In this lively, candid episode, OG beauty gurus and besties Manny MUA and Laura Lee get real about how the influencer and social media landscape has changed over the last decade. Using the viral trend of 2016 nostalgia as a launch point, they dissect how influencer culture has shifted from carefree fun to highly curated, brand-oriented content, examine the impact of cancel culture, and compare the challenges and opportunities of being a creator in 2016 and 2026. Along the way, they share personal anecdotes, poke fun at each other, reveal what they’re reading, and drop plenty of classic Fool Coverage humor and shade.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. 2016 vs 2026: Shifting Influencer Culture

[38:42–50:06]

• Nostalgia Post Discussion:
  Manny brings up a viral quote:

  "What I'm getting from this 2016 throwback is that everyone used to be so fun, so carefree and so at ease. Now everything is heavily curated and no one wants to be silly anymore. We need to bring that back.”
  (Manny, 39:20)

• Cancel Culture’s Role:
  Both agree the biggest change is cancel culture—creators became hyper-vigilant about what they post after seeing peers get “canceled for sneezing.”

  "You will get canceled for anything and everything. Now, you will get canceled for being filmed on the street and looking at someone and it looks mean."
  (Laura, 39:48)

• Curation Then and Now:
  Manny points out some curation always existed, just in different forms (aesthetics, filters, Desio contacts), but it's intensified.

• Reclusiveness and Playbook:
  Creators now stick to a “cancellation playbook,” sharing less of their authentic selves to avoid backlash.

2. Ego, Empathy, and the 'What About Me' Phenomenon

[42:51–49:10]

• Rise of Individualism in Responses:
  Manny observes comment sections are filled with “‘but what about me?’” takes:

  "Someone’s making a TikTok about chocolate ice cream and the top comment is, 'But what about if you're lactose intolerant?'"
  (Manny, 43:05)

• Desire to be Right:
  Laura explains many correct or criticize online not out of concern, but from a subconscious need to feel superior:

  “They just want to be right, and they don’t even know that they're doing it. It's driven by ego.”
  (Laura, 44:42)

• Loss of Empathy:
  Manny and Laura agree the obsession with self and being right blocks empathy, further eroding online authenticity.

3. Community, Comments, and Platform Differences

[49:22–53:44]

• TikTok vs Instagram:
  Laura notes TikTok has higher engagement, more community vibes, and quicker interactions compared to Instagram:

  “You’ll get so many more comments… people are just more active.”
  (Laura, 50:30)

• Liking Comments Drives Clout:
  Manny highlights how “likes” on comments now encourage people to leave outrageous or mean comments for clout, not because it builds fame, but due to dopamine-driven addiction.

  “There’s no such thing as someone getting famous from a popular comment. It’s just dopamine in your own head.”
  (Manny, 48:30)

• Positive Side:
  They point out that comments can also foster humor and community (especially with new features like stickers/pictures).

4. Changes in Creator Motivation & Platform Accessibility

[53:48–62:16]

• “Why are there so many influencers now?”
  Laura observes that in 2016, creators often started with a passion or talent (makeup, storytelling, humor) and dreams of an attainable life. In 2026, many are motivated by visibility and financial incentives:

  “Creators create content now to become famous creators… In 2016, there weren’t as many incentives and you had to have a talent. Now, anyone can be a creator.”
  (Laura, 53:59)

• Barrier to Entry Is Lower
  Filming is now extremely easy (iPhones vs camcorders), and short-form content makes everyone a potential influencer.

• Short-form vs Long-form:
  2026 is dominated by short-form, which is easier to make and virality is more random. Long-form (YouTube) built deeper bonds, but is much harder.

5. Talent vs Personality: Brand Partnerships

[59:45–62:16]

• Laura shares an insight from a PR professional: brands now struggle to find creators with actual “talent” (skill-based or entertaining), not just numbers. “Personality” is more common, but not always what brands want for certain campaigns.

6. Being Yourself vs Fear of Criticism

[62:16–65:42]

• Manny laments seeing creators present totally different personas on- and offline, usually out of fear:

  “There are so many content creators whose content online is the polar opposite of who they are in real life. And it's actually shocking to me.”
  (Manny, 65:07)

• Brand-friendliness, criticism, and pressure to be “perfect” stifle authenticity and fun.

• Laura adds:

  “It must be so exhausting to put off this kind of perfection vibe... I would hate making content if it had to be perfect every time.”
  (Laura, 63:30)

7. Personal Growth: Then vs Now

[65:42–67:54]

• Manny and Laura share how their attitudes towards content, career, and life have shifted.

  “In 2016, I was kind of lost... now in 2026, I’m just doing whatever the fuck I want to do because that’s what I want to do.”
  (Manny, 66:07)

• Laura: “I feel more connected to my personal life than my career... that’s naturally going to give me a better future in 2026.”
  (66:35)

8. Gen Z and Content Trends

[66:56–68:22]

• Both praise Gen Z’s sense of humor and burst the “millennials are funnier” myth:

  “Gen Z has a sense of humor. Millennials take themselves too seriously.”
  (Manny, 67:11)

• Brand participation in comment sections and social conversations is now the norm (“Dr. Pepper commenting on TikTok is wild!”).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On influencer career goals:

  “We all started because it was just fun... Now it's so curated, everyone’s a professional, and it's like a playbook.”
  (Laura, 41:49)

• On cancel culture and fear:

  “Back in 2016, people weren’t getting canceled for everything. Now, you get canceled for being filmed looking at someone funny on the street.”
  (Laura, 39:48)

• On community in comments:

  “The comments are community, that’s where the fun is—when it’s positive! But people will say heinous shit just for the likes now.”
  (Manny, 49:22)

• On personal authenticity:

  “If you take yourself too seriously and can’t have fun, that’s a red flag. It’s exhausting pretending to be perfect.”
  (Laura, 63:28)

• On taking risks:

  “We took huge risks, years ago—if you want to bite big, you gotta risk big. And congrats on all your failures, because most people don’t even try.”
  (Laura, 69:06)

Bonus: Book & Life Recommendations

[19:31–38:38]

• Laura’s Deep Dive: Jay Shetty’s Think Like A Monk

  • Favorite takeaway: We assume we “deserve” the good, but dwell on not deserving the bad—should be grateful for good things too.
  • “It hit me with so many profound things about life... really blew my mind.” (Laura, 24:14)

• Manny’s Latest Read: A Court of Mist and Fury (fantasy series)

  • Loves engaging, non-annoying protagonists and how easy the Kindle makes reading on the go.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Nostalgia & Change in Influencer Culture: 38:42–41:49
• Cancel Culture’s Impact: 39:41–41:49
• The Ego and 'What About Me': 42:51–45:49
• Comments & Community: 49:22–50:57
• Brand and Creator Talent Evaluation: 59:45–62:16
• Generational Humor: 66:56–68:22
• Personal and Professional Growth: 65:42–67:54

Tone

Classic Fool Coverage: spirited, gossipy, real, plenty of inside jokes, shade, and moments of authentic reflection. Manny and Laura balance humor and sass with honest, sometimes vulnerable, industry insights.

Takeaway for Listeners

The influencer world has gotten bigger, richer, and more polished—but less spontaneous and less silly, thanks to a culture that pressures perfection and punishes missteps. While anyone can be an influencer now, true talent and authenticity are still rare (and highly valued). Personal growth comes from caring less about critics and more about being yourself. In the words of Fool Coverage: it’s about finding the fun amidst the filters.