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India Today
19-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Followers, free trips, and easy visas: Influencers under scanner for Pakistan links
We've seen influencers go as far as leaping off cliffs, risking their own lives in the pursuit of online attention. But could that pursuit extend to compromising national security — all for a few sponsored trips, more followers, and a spike in likes?India Today analysed the social media patterns of three influencers currently under the radar for alleged espionage linked to Pakistan. Jyoti Malhotra, Priyanka Senapati, and Devinder Singh Dhillon are among the prominent digital creators whose names have surfaced in the ongoing investigation. advertisementA review of their YouTube channels shows sharp spikes in followers and views following trips to Pakistan. Travel influencer Jyoti, with over 3.86 lakh subscribers, has visited eight countries and travelled widely across India. Analytics from the cyber growth platform SocialBlade show only three notable spikes in her subscriber count — in April 2023, April 2024, and December 2024 — each coinciding with her documented visits to Pakistan in the preceding months. A similar pattern is observed in the subscriber growth of Priyanka Senapati, who travelled to Pakistan in March, 2025. Her association with Jyoti—who had previously made multiple visits—may have played a role in facilitating her visa there is no direct evidence, Jyoti's visit to Pahalgam just months before the attack has also raised eyebrows. While she is not believed to have shared any military information with Pakistani operatives, Palak Sher Masih and Suraj Masih—both active on Instagram—were arrested on May 3 for allegedly leaking sensitive information and photographs of Army cantonment areas and air bases in Amritsar. Influencers, under the garb of content creation, often gain access to sensitive locations with little oversight. They are able to access and film with relative ease, facing minimal scrutiny while sharing potentially revealing this wasn't the only motive behind Pakistani intelligence operatives(PIO) engaging influencers. YouTube videos and reports suggest that Jyoti developed a close association with a Pakistani High Commission official Danish during her visit to Pakistan. A vlog on her channel from an Iftar party captures her being welcomed by Danish upon arrival and later seen leaving the event alongside also known as Ehsan-ur-Rahim, was declared persona non grata on May 13 over charges of espionage. In diplomatic terms, a persona non grata is a foreign diplomat whom the host country formally requests to be recalled by their home appears to be engaging in a subtler form of influence operations– using influencers to amplify pro-Pakistani narratives in exchange for soft incentives like facilitated visas, sponsored trips, and algorithmic visibility. While data shows a consistent pattern of spike in follower counts post visits to Pakistan, there is no definitive evidence attributing that growth directly to coordinated state-backed creator Devinder Singh Dhillon visited the University of Punjab in Lahore in December 2024, crossing via the Wagah border. His content reflects a sustained interest in showcasing Pakistan — featuring its currency, prominent gurudwaras, Lahore Fort, local museums, and Istanbul Chowk. His most recent appearance in Pakistan, traced to just two weeks ago at Lahore Junction, preceded his eventual reportedly shared videos of Patiala cantonment with addition to them, Tareef, Jaffar Husain, Nauman Illahi, Armaan, Guzala, Yameen Mohammad, and Shahzad are among the other individuals who have come under scrutiny.
Pink Villa
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Jisoo loses 200K followers despite new K-drama and album; will BLACKPINK tour save her? Fans demand change in PR team
Jisoo, the eldest member of BLACKPINK, is currently facing a noticeable drop in her Instagram follower count. This has sparked discussions among her fans. Data from analytics site Social Blade reveals that Jisoo has lost over 162,000 followers in the past month alone. Notably, she has nearly lost 200,000 in total since hitting her highest point in February 2025. She now holds the lowest follower count (79.6 million) among the four BLACKPINK members. In contrast, her fellow groupmate Lisa leads the pack with over 106 million followers. Lisa maintains her status as the most-followed female K-pop idol in the world. Jennie and Rosé also show consistent upward trends in follower growth. This further highlights the shift in Jisoo 's social media engagement. This unexpected decline has led fans to closely analyze potential reasons behind it. One of the most frequently discussed points is the change in the nature of Jisoo's Instagram content. Since the launch of her personal label, BLISSOO, in late 2024, her feed has gradually transitioned from casual, candid snapshots to more polished and commercial posts. Jisoo was once celebrated for sharing behind-the-scenes moments, off-duty selfies, and spontaneous life updates. Now, her account predominantly features promotional materials, branded collaborations, and professionally curated photoshoots. Such a transition is not uncommon for celebrities establishing their own businesses. But some fans feel that this new approach lacks the authenticity that originally drew them in. Many longtime followers have expressed a sense of distance. They noted that the account now feels more like a digital storefront than a personal space. Adding to the speculation is the growing concern among fans that Jisoo's account might be facing algorithmic restrictions. Some have floated the theory that she may be shadow banned due to an increase in sponsored posts. It means her content may not be reaching as wide an audience as before. However, this theory remains speculative. Despite the online chatter, many fans continue to show support for Jisoo. They point out that her recent career priorities could explain the dip in social media activity and the shift in tone. In the past year, Jisoo has immersed herself in solo ventures. Jisoo recently released her debut solo mini-album, Amortage, on February 14, 2025. She also stars in the newly released K-drama Newtopia. With her schedule packed under BLISSOO, it's understandable that her social media strategy may have changed to align with her evolving public image. Nevertheless, fans remain optimistic that the idol will reconnect with her audience in a more personal way in the near future. Many believe that even a single casual update, such as a selfie or spontaneous moment, could reignite interest and bring back the charm that once defined her feed. Meanwhile, anticipation builds for BLACKPINK's highly awaited comeback and their upcoming world tour, DEADLINE. Expectations are high not only for the group's musical return but also for more engaging updates from each member. For Jisoo, this could be the ideal moment to reconnect with fans. Sharing tour content and behind-the-scenes glimpses may help bring back her warm and approachable image on social media.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Taylor Swift Reportedly Lost Over 144K Instagram Followers After Super Bowl Incident
Taylor Swift has seen a notable drop in her Instagram followers following her appearance at Super Bowl LIX. The pop icon, who attended the event to support her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, faced unexpected backlash, leading to a reported loss of over 144,200 Instagram followers. The sudden decline has fueled debates among fans and critics, with speculation ranging from her political stance to general public opinion. Here are more details. Reports indicate that Taylor Swift's Instagram followers have decreased after she was met with boos at Super Bowl LIX. She attended the game to cheer on Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce, but instead of a warm welcome, she faced a mixed reception. According to data from Social Blade, Swift lost over 144,200 Instagram followers in the aftermath of the event. This decline has sparked discussions about why the backlash occurred. Some critics believe Swift's political views played a role in the negative reaction. Alexis Winters, a member of the New York Young Republican Club, suggested the decline in followers shows frustration among fans. Winters said, 'We are tired of celebrities calling down to us from their ivory towers, giving their two cents on policies that will never impact them.' (via Marca) Though Swift saw a decline in her Instagram following, Kelce saw an increase. Reports suggest that he gained over 12K Instagram followers after the Super Bowl. This contrast has frustrated some fans, who argue that Swift is facing unfair treatment. Jenna Piwowarczyk, a leader of the 'Swifties for Trump' movement said, 'When Travis made an appearance on the Eras Tour, Swifties were excited to see him and cheered him on. When Taylor was shown on the Jumbotron, she was booed.' She further condemned the hate and negative comments against the pop star. Originally reported by Disheeta Maheshwari on The post Taylor Swift Reportedly Lost Over 144K Instagram Followers After Super Bowl Incident appeared first on Mandatory.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Selena Gomez Loses Over 130,000 Instagram Followers After ‘Emilia Pérez' Backlash Despite Leading 2025 Oscar Nominations
Although the foreign film Emilia Pérez won over The Academy and has garnered the most Oscar nominations for the March 2025 awards ceremony, actress Selena Gomez is receiving some serious scrutiny over her role in the movie. The backlash and her tearful video about the United States immigration policies under President Donald Trump's administration have prompted over 130,000 of her fans to unfollow her on Instagram — a significant comedown given she's held the title of the most followed woman on the platform. Let us break down the criticism that caused Gomez's drastic social media fall. Gomez portrays Jessi Del Monte in the musical/thriller Emilia Pérez, and her performance has been applauded by Americans, especially those in the film industry, delving out the awards. Her co-stars have also received high praise, including Karla Sofía Gascón and Zoe Saldana, who are pegged to be the ones to beat for Best Actress and Best Actress in a Supporting Role at the Oscars. However, the movie didn't elicit the same positive attention in Mexico and Latin America as a whole as it did in the U.S. Many took issue with the film's portrayal of the country's struggles with drug violence and widely excluding Mexican actors from leading roles. Gomez herself has also been criticized for what some called her 'indefensible' Spanish-speaking in the film. The Texas native clapped back, saying she did her best with the time allotted, but it didn't turn around her haters as her Instagram follower count declined. If there weren't enough side eyes on Gomez this awards season, she also rubbed her followers the wrong way when she posted and deleted an Instagram video on January 27 of her sobbing over the deportation of Mexican immigrants. 'All my people are being attacked,' the former Disney Channel star said through tears. However, she immediately was hit with fiery comments from Trump supporters, accusing her of being overly 'politically correct.' The overwhelming responses led Gomez to post and delete another video on January 28, saying, 'Apparently it's not ok to show empathy for people.' Gomez's drop in Instagram followers appears to be a reflection of the negativity that's come her way over Emilia Pérez and her blubbering video condemning the deportation of Mexican immigrants. Experts at CritiqueJeu analyzed Gomez's abrupt decrease in social media followers via Social Blade and shared their findings in a press release. The shocking numbers show: January 28 was the singer's biggest single-day drop in Instagram followers, with 44,151 fans hitting the unfollow button. The Wizards of Waverly Place alum lost 59,694 since January 27, when her distressed video went viral. In total, Gomez lost 132,625 followers after her apparent career-wrenching posts. Gomez's follower count took a hit long before her latest social media posts, as CritiqueJeu calculated she'd lost 808,500 followers in the last 30 days. Cofounder of CritiqueJeu, Paul Lenglet, commented on the ordeal in a statement. 'Selena Gomez had a great end to 2024, but the start of 2025 has not been so gentle on her. The star has been facing many criticisms over her participation and performance on Emilia Pérez, a film directed and filmed in Paris, but with a story that takes place in Mexico.' He continued: 'The film's backlash, especially from Mexican audiences, is now combined with backlash from her video condemning the deportation of Mexican immigrants by ICE. Gomez has been known for publicly speaking out, but this can alienate different segments of her fanbase — and potential Rare Beauty, her makeup brand, customers.'
