08-08-2025
Investigating the risks of following 'wellness' influencers
internet health 10:05 am today
Global wellness is now a multi-billion dollar industry - but how do we know if we're being sold something that's sound - or snake oil? It's something my next guest has devoted the better part of a decade to researching. Dr Stephanie Alice Baker is based at the Department of Sociology and Criminology at City St George's, University of London. Among her research interests is online health and wellness culture - and how influencers establish trust, intimacy and authority among their followers. Last year she was a contributing author to a book called Cults - also now a podcast - which examined high-profile cult leaders through history, but also individuals like Elon Musk, Andrew Tate and Jordan Peterson who have achieved cult-followings in the 21st century. She recently contributed to RNZ podcast The Lodge, which investigated a wellness retreat based at Takaro Lodge near Te Anau. So what is the role of new media tech doing to society, particularly in helping to amplify mis and dis-information?
