Oil corporations slickly tap influencers, sparking eco-conscious uproar

Top oil corporations are increasingly utilising social media influencers to advertise their products, a move that has provoked criticism from environmentally conscious followers.

The influencers, typically known for sharing lifestyle content, are now endorsing petrol stations, fuel rewards, and club cards. Instances of such promotions were identified by AFP across India, Mexico, South Africa, and the United States on platforms including Instagram, TikTok, and Twitch. The promoted companies involve major oil players such as BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Shell, and TotalEnergies.

A TikTok influencer known as The Petrol Princess, who typically showcases wigs to her 2.7 million followers, invites invites her fans to “Join me to grab some snacks at my family Shell gas station.”

The partnership is appropriately tagged as a “paid partnership” according…