Internet scams have been getting exposed left and right. If you’ve been on social media for the past two weeks, you may have come across these scandals and possibly fell down a rabbit-hole trying to connect the dots.
Influencer Angel Victoria Murdock has been receiving a lot of backlash after it was revealed that for the past two years, she was lying about attending Duke University’s Physician Assistant (PA) Program. Her followers noticed she was not present at the PA School graduation, and did not appear in any class photos Duke shared online. Additionally, TikTok creator and Duke PA graduate Kiera Lee suggested that Murdock may have been copying her because she followed her and coincidentally posted the same “rotations” at the same time as her. Duke University later confirmed that Murdock never attended or applied to their PA program.
While some users empathized with Murdock and acknowledged that she did not harm anyone, as if she were to pose as a practicing PA, others recognized the pernicious nature of being able to profit off of a lie, especially all the while stealing someone else’s life.
Users who practice internet safety know the rule of not revealing personal information online. One’s full name, address or town of residence, school, workplace or other identifying factors are typically kept hidden. Social media can present an opportunity to create an entirely separate persona that is different from their own. A person named John Smith can become just “Jay”. Someone who works full time as a teacher in real life can present as a political commentator online.
And in more extreme cases that go beyond simply concealing information, someone like Angel Murdock can become a PA school student without actually going to school.
While online safety tells us to protect ourselves by hiding personal information, those who want to make a living as social media influencers are told to build a fanbase through consistency and intimacy. Daily “Get Ready With Me”, “Story Time” and “Day in the Life,” content has become more popular among young people seeking to mirror or take inspiration from influencers that seem similar to them. Influencers who reveal more about themselves can manufacture an audience that feels close to them. In an area where relatability and authenticity are highly valued, that closeness can result in engagement and brand deals. It is almost impossible to get there without revealing too much about themselves— unless it is fabricated.
At first glance, no one would have assumed that Murdock was lying about her lifestyle. After all, she only had less than fifty thousand followers and had all the markings of a healthcare influencer. She wore scrubs, gave advice to PA students, named the school she went to and even talked about her hardships as a student on her livestream. She was able to benefit off of disclosing personal information without actually sacrificing her privacy because none of it was real.
What this all goes to show is that it is incredibly easy to fabricate a life on the internet. Social media can serve as inspiration, but users should remember that they are only seeing a portion of someone’s life that they choose to show. Like Murdock, others could very well be lying and it’s necessary to take precautions before taking inspiration from others.