#tech influencers

I watched a Hank Green video that criticized the term "influencer." In terms of YouTube popularity, he would qualify as one - but his argument is that he's a "content creator," and that the term "influencer" was actually devised by companies to label people they could use to push their products.

I think we all have this collective idea of what "influencer" means. Facebook. Instagram. It's this popular, typically young adult demographic of people who share details of their lives, careers, and lifestyle tips for the world to see.

From there, in my personal opinion, the topic of "influencer" becomes more interesting. First, there's the idea of a fiction - as in influencers who create this impossible standard in everything from beauty to career. On the other, there's the sheer amount of money involved...the corporations themselves might be a lot more interested in an "influencer" than in an average 9-5 employee.

Then there's social media, and how it incentivizes its users to follow the same templates - regardless of how large or small their following. Meta encouraging AI use for content creation. The ubiquitous "algorithm," and how the user starts to feel like someone playing a video game and learning what does/doesn't generate the invisible dopamine-generating notifications pertaining to "likes."

But it's a really broad topic, and "influencers" can be anything from tech to cooking to beauty...so with no sort of transition I'm going to use this as a jumping off point.

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Like a lot of people ten years ago, I used to spend a good deal of time following tech influencers like Joma Tech, Mayuko, and Chloe Shih. It was all just kind of fun. Sometimes they would talk about LeetCode, or sometimes they would just leave the camera rolling and show clips of office perks. I was in college for computer science. I doubt that I thought of it as actual studying or research - it was just something to consume.

Now in 2025, there's a trend I've been noticing with tech influencers...

...a lot of them are leaving tech.

In a sense, it makes a lot of sense. To be clear, this next part is just me writing and not really grounding my ideas in any sort of research...but quite a few people are getting laid off. Chloe Shih was laid off as a product manager and decided to become a full-time tech influencer or content creator. Most recently, Pooja Dutt did the same. Nick White disappeared and revealed he had become a full-time streamer, Kevin Naughton quit Google (if I remember correctly), NeetCode left Google to start selling a course full-time...

It might pay pretty well. These people may also realize that their ability to carry a following online is more unique and marketable than whatever skills they were cultivating as 9-5 employees.

But here's the part I keep wondering about - if the entire industry is experiencing lots of layoffs/uncertainty, and if people on social media have switched to seeing get-rich-quick tech content to gloom-and-doom tech content...aren't the views on social media really going to drop off? I'm sure they've thought about this. These people are orders of magnitude smarter than I am.

Pooja Dutt made a video about how much work/research her videos require, and how she also outsources things like thumbnail, video editing. She presents research. Lots of tech influencers provide research. They'll have some question, like Will We Lose Our Jobs To AI, and then there will be these really aesthetically pleasing charts and corporate announcements that have the appeal of a TV series. I find some value in these, I guess.

I'm not afraid to mention named like Pooja because I think of them as better than a lot of other tech influencers. Some of the ones I haven't mentioned by name, I think, are worse. They oversell tech and coding as really easy get-rich-quick schemes, then abruptly so a 180 and start pumping out content about how it's a bloodbath and the only way to succeed is by buying their course.

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...it's a debate I've been having with Smack for a while. I don't know if all of these "tech influencers" deserve to be lumped together. Some just make videos about how to do x, y, and z while coding, and it's hard to put that next to some clickbait video about how to get ahead of 99% of developers by investing in their new crypto.

But another thing I find interesting...and yes, it's ironic that I keep saying "interesting" in a long post that isn't that interesting...I anticipate the shit comments already...

So let's say you get a job at FAANG, or MANGO, or whatever the fk Cramer is calling it now in his loud show. You've done what only a small percentage of people in the industry have managed to do. Some will trivialize it. Some will argue against it, or caution those who follow them. Personally, I think it's a bit like getting into a prestigious university.

So...how did they achieve this? That's what a lot of their audience wants to know. That becomes one of the most interesting things about them. The question, then, becomes whether or not they're overly/hyperfocused on the skills required to GET a really prestigious job, as opposed to what it requires to maintain/contribute at said job.

I don't really know how to conclude that. Many, like Smack, would simply say they're not the target audience. They're already in tech. Why would you spend lots of time watching content targeted at people trying to break into tech?

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Do I have a tl;dr? Not really. Yes, this was longer than I thought it would be.

There's documentation on things like Vuetify and Spring Boot. We could blog about that to the end of time.

I'm not sure anyone would read it, though, if the documentation is already so good. Maybe videos would be more appealing.

INTRODUCTION

In today’s digital age, Technology Influencers play a significant role in shaping how India explores technology, whether it's gadgets, apps, or futuristic innovations like AI and blockchain. These creators don’t just review products—they simplify complex tech, entertain, and guide millions across YouTube, Instagram, and more. Their honest opinions help people make smarter buying decisions. Whether you’re a tech lover or a brand, keeping up with these voices is a smart move. And if you’re a brand? Team up with Influvera, your go-to agency for tech influencer collabs. Here’s your go-to list for 2025’s top tech creators!

Why Tech Influencers Matter in India

India’s tech scene is booming, driven by rising smartphone use, a surge in startups, and rapid digital growth. But with so many choices, people trust influencers for real talk and hands-on insights. Tech influencers serve as the bridge between brands and users, building trust, driving sales, and simplifying the tech journey. For brands, they’re not just content creators — they’re innovation partners.

Top Technology Influencers in India (2025)

Technical Guruji (Gaurav Chaudhary) One of India’s top tech influencers, Gaurav is known for explaining gadgets, AI, and daily tech news in simple language. His honest reviews and unboxings are loved by tech enthusiasts across the country. Platforms: YouTube, Instagram

Geeky Ranjit (Ranjit Kumar) Ranjit is famous for his in-depth reviews of smartphones and laptops. His content is always balanced, practical, and user-focused, which makes it extremely helpful for people making tech buying decisions. Platforms: YouTube, Instagram, Twitter

3. Trakin Tech (Arun Prabhudesai) Arun creates content around tech trends, gadget reviews, and industry updates. His channel is highly popular among Indian tech lovers for delivering real-time news and live event coverage. Platforms: YouTube, Instagram

Tech Burner (Shlok Srivastava) Shlok is known for his fun, quirky, and highly creative tech content. From DIY hacks to gadget reviews, his youth-friendly videos have made him a Gen Z favorite in the tech space. Platforms: YouTube, Instagram