Instagram Influencers Are Becoming The New Televangelists

"The whole economy of Instagram is based on our thinking about our selves, posting about our selves, working on our selves. There is a chasm between the vast scope of our needs and what influencers can provide. We're looking for guidance in the wrong places."

What happens in a world where young people move away from more spiritual groups or religion and instead put their faith (and money) into life hackers, wellness gurus and motivational coaches?

Novelist Leigh Stein explores this emotional doomsday scenario in a sharp piece in the NY Times, and explores how dangerous it is when vulnerable people put too much faith in these so-called "Instavangelists."

As with televangelists, it is sad when people put their trust in manipulators who don't deserve it in the first place.