"Online social networks provide a platform upon which influence can be created out of nothing. Psychologist Robert Cialdini´s basic principles of influence, proposed in 1984, are all revelant and present on these nerworks. Consider, for exemple, how successful influencers share atractive stories that impact an audience. Frequent postings and interactions help make influencers easier to identify to fans and give followers a sense of familiarity. Many influencers aldo manage to establish themselves as experts or authorities within their topics, even without the accreditation of researchers. Humans are by nature social animals, as Aristotle pointed out, but we are especially exigent about how real our connections are. People naturally form parasocial relationships, feeling a deep emotional connection to someone without any direct interaction. We feel as if we know our favorite movie stars personally. and when the voice of a podcaster fills a room, we feel less alone. We recognize fa...