A unique story unfolded during the World Cup as an Argentinian influencer sought to find the least-known player among the participants. While fans around the world were discussing the biggest stars of the tournament, Valen Scarsini decided to look for someone completely opposite—a player who was virtually unknown. After researching all teams participating in the World Cup, he concluded that the answer lay in the person of Payne, the right-back of New Zealand's national team, whose Instagram profile had fewer than 5,000 followers at the time.
Scarsini then posted a video calling on his followers to support this relatively unknown footballer, whom almost nobody had heard of before. What followed turned into one of the strangest stories of the tournament. In just a few days, Payne’s profile exploded. The number of followers jumped from under 5,000 to over a million, and continued to grow day by day. His profile became more popular than that of New Zealand's national team and even more so than that of his club, Wellington Phoenix.
Comments started coming in from all over the world. People from Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, and many other countries suddenly began introducing themselves as long-time supporters of Payne. Payne himself admitted that he didn't understand what was happening until his social media accounts started exploding. After discovering the reason behind the sudden attention, he reached out to the influencer who initiated the whole story and thanked him for the support.
While the greatest stars fought for the title of world champion, the 32-year-old New Zealander became a symbol of a different side of football. He did not score a goal. He did not win a trophy. But he became one of the most recognizable figures of the World Cup thanks to an idea that traveled around the globe.
In a separate but equally notable incident, a Serbian influencer named Lea Stanković sparked controversy after sharing advice on how to afford luxury items such as a Chanel handbag. She claimed that her secret was simply cooking at home and avoiding ordering food deliveries. According to her, people often ask where the money comes from for such expensive items, and she believed the answer lies in preparing meals at home instead of eating out or using delivery services.
She calculated that the average cost of daily food orders could amount to hundreds of euros per month, which she compared to the price of a Louis Vuitton bag. Her message essentially suggested that people should think about cooking at home to save money. However, her video quickly generated strong reactions from the public. Some found her advice motivational and financially practical, while others criticized her for lacking touch with reality and everyday expenses of ordinary people.
Stanković attempted to clarify her statement, explaining that she wasn’t targeting people who cook regularly but rather those who have become used to frequently ordering food and wonder where their money goes. Despite her clarification, the debate surrounding her video continued to spread across various platforms.
Meanwhile, another influential figure in the realm of social media, Meri Goldašić, shared insights into her journey from a shy girl from Šibenik to one of the most popular women in Croatia, followed by several hundred thousand people on social media. During an interview with Ivo Šarić on Happy FM, she reflected on her experiences with motherhood, divorce, love, and life lessons learned along the way. She also discussed her approach to dealing with negative comments and the importance of being a friend to her children rather than an authority figure.
Goldašić recounted her childhood memories, describing herself as very quiet and sensitive, often crying when teased. It wasn't until high school that she developed a stronger sense of self and learned to take care of herself. She emphasized the importance of involving children in decision-making processes and treating them as friends rather than mere subordinates. Regarding her recent divorce, she expressed that she viewed it not as a failure but as a new beginning, focusing on positive aspects of her life and maintaining a friendly relationship with her ex-partner.
These diverse narratives highlight the multifaceted nature of influence on social media, ranging from unexpected viral moments to controversial financial advice and personal reflections on life and relationships. Each story contributes to the broader understanding of how individuals navigate their roles in the digital landscape, shaping perceptions and sparking discussions across global audiences.
4 reports
Jutarnji listIndependentCenterFactual 85Objective 7018 days agoMery Goldašić, one of Croatia's most well-known influencers, reflected on her early career and personal life during an interview with Ivo Šarić on Happy FM's SHOWtime program. She recalled advice she received from Miro Čabraja at the beginning of her career, which helped her view social media as a profession rather than just a hobby. Goldašić discussed her journey from a shy girl from Šibenik to becoming one of the most followed women in Croatia, touching on topics such as motherhood, divorce, love, and her experiences with social media. She shared insights into how she learned to deal with negative comments online and the influence of Maja Šuput on her approach to handling criticism. Reflecting on her childhood, she admitted she was once very quiet and sensitive, often crying if children looked at her due to her freckles. However, after moving to Zagreb in fifth grade, she developed a stronger sense of self and began focusing on taking care of herself. Goldašić spoke emotionally about her relationship with her children, emphasizing her desire to involve them in decision-making and treat them as friends while maintaining authority as a parent. She also briefly mentioned her recent,
Bias read (Center): The article discusses personal reflections and experiences of an influencer regarding parenting, social media, and personal growth. While it touches on societal norms around child-rearing and generational differences, there is no explicit political commentary, advocacy, or framing that leans toward左
Why these scores (Factual 85 · Objective 70): The article accurately reports Meri Goldašić’s reflections on her career and advice from Miro Čabraja, aligning with cross-source consensus on her journey as an influencer. However, it includes subjective personal anecdotes and emotional language, reducing objectivity.
Index.hrIndependentCenterFactual 85Objective 7019 days agoA Serbian influencer named Lea Stanković sparked controversy online after sharing a video explaining how she affords expensive luxury items like a Chanel handbag. She claimed her method involves cooking meals at home instead of ordering food deliveries or eating out. In the video, she calculated that the average person spends around 1022 euros per month on food delivery, which could instead be used to buy a Louis Vuitton bag. The post generated significant reactions and criticism from her followers.
Bias read (Center): The article presents the influencer's claims and the public reaction without taking a stance. It reports on the content of the video and the resulting controversy neutrally, without endorsing or criticizing the influencer's message or the responses to it.
Why these scores (Factual 85 · Objective 70): The article accurately reports the influencer's claims about saving money by cooking at home and avoiding food delivery. The details match the content of her video and subsequent comments. However, it presents the controversy as a reaction from critics who say she lacks touch with reality, which may
tportalIndependentCenterFactual 80Objective 6523 days agoAn Argentine influencer named Valen Scarsini sought out the least-known player at the World Cup, identifying New Zealand's right-back Payne, who had fewer than 5,000 followers on Instagram. After Scarsini posted a video encouraging support for Payne, his social media following exploded, surpassing even that of New Zealand's national team and his club, Wellington Phoenix. Fans from around the world began claiming they were longtime supporters of Payne, who was surprised by the sudden attention but eventually thanked Scarsini for the support.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on an event involving a sports figure and social media trends without taking a stance on any political issue. The content is neutral, focusing on the unexpected rise of a footballer's online presence due to public interest.
Why these scores (Factual 80 · Objective 65): Accurately reflects the controversy around Lea Stanković’s video and public reaction. While factual, the tone leans toward highlighting criticism rather than presenting a balanced view, affecting objectivity.
Večernji listIndependentCenterFactual 75Objective 6019 days agoA Serbian influencer named Lea Stanković shared a video explaining her financial strategy for affording luxury items like a Chanel handbag. She emphasized cooking at home and avoiding food delivery services to save money. The video sparked significant online reactions and debate among internet users.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information about an influencer's personal financial advice without taking a clear ideological stance. It reports on the content of the video and the public reaction without editorializing or favoring any particular viewpoint.
Why these scores (Factual 75 · Objective 60): Factual claims about Lea Stanković’s video and its impact are supported by multiple sources. However, the article presents a biased narrative, emphasizing outrage and criticism, which reduces objectivity.
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