By Mary Greenwood, Second-year, Law
‘Starting the new year can be stressful, but not with this. Let me show you how my planner is unique.’ The influencer voicing this sentiment is Ruby Granger, a twenty-four-year-old Exeter graduate, and creator of the Ruby Granger YouTube channel, followed by approximately 920,000 people. But her soothing voiceover, exquisitely tidy notes, and picturesque surroundings are comparable to any number of study influencers sharing their content across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. The phenomenon of students creating videos to showcase revision strategies has been building steadily since the dawn of ‘influencing’ as a profession, originally gaining traction during the COVID-19 pandemic, and showing no sign of slowing down.
Given the enormous following of popular study YouTubers like Granger, it is safe to assume that many students find such content helpful. In addition to offering study advice, influencers also share candid discussions of the pros and cons of different universities, recipe tips, and book recommendations. Social media platforms are flooded with grateful comments: ‘This motivated me beyond words for my work this evening!’, ‘It helps so much when someone is studying with me, even just on the other side of a computer screen’, ‘this is ridiculously helpful… you are actually SAVING LIVES.’
Videos with titles like ‘10-Hour Study With Me’ have become incredibly popular, amassing over 4 million views in some cases. Viewers feel a connection to the influencer, finding comfort in the shared experience of tackling academic challenges together. This growing trend reflects a larger movement in online content, where users seek accountability and motivation, making these extended study sessions a highly effective way to inspire others.
Epigram spoke to Oscar, a second-year student, who explained that ‘it’s good to be reminded how exciting and romantic this period of our lives is.’ Given the stress, chaos, and even loneliness that is oftentimes part and parcel of student life, study influencers can serve as valuable examples of how to create a peaceful environment, slow down, and focus.
However, not all educators view study influencers as entirely positive. Epigram spoke to Sophie, an English teacher with experience across a variety of educational settings, who shared her scepticism: ‘Unrealistic videos can be unhelpful, making it about the input, not output.’ Sophie’s comments point to how an emphasis on the visual aspects of studying – such as colour-coded notes, handwriting style, and organised study spaces – may take time away from engaging with the academic material itself.
An example of this is the frequent promotion of expensive stationery by study influencers. These curated accessories, presented as essential for academic success, are often inaccessible to the average student, reinforcing the disparity between those who can afford such luxuries and those who cannot.
‘Even the more real ones are still out of touch [...] they don’t realise the privilege which comes with the job,' another student, Gwen, explained. Oscar shared a similar sentiment, adding that studying could potentially become a form of ‘method acting’, divorced from academic intent. Given that 78 per cent of students report worrying about their finances, many are forced to make do with budget-friendly materials in cramped accommodations – alienated from this aestheticised representation of student life.
Study-focused social media content also includes sponsored posts promoting educational products, with influencers receiving compensation for sharing content that portrays their academic routines and study spaces. As well as sponsorship deals from a wide variety of companies (including much-criticised sponsorship giants like HelloFresh and BetterHelp), many produce their own product lines of planners, stationary, or tote bags.
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Whilst this is no different from how any other influencers make money, students are a uniquely vulnerable target market. Given their widespread financial insecurity and the fact that many are likely living away from home for the first time, products directed at students, as noted by one fourth-year English student, ‘should be not only affordable but more than anything, genuinely useful.’
Of course, study influencers may offer beneficial encouragement for some students, offering motivation and support, while for others, they run the risk of becoming a stressful or costly distraction. Each student may benefit from exploring different approaches to studying—whether that involves drawing motivation from influencers or studying independently, using a structured planner, or a more informal method such as digital notes. Ultimately, the key is finding a strategy that supports effective learning and academic success.
Featured Image: Epigram / Daisy Yates
Do you think social media has changed the way students approach revision?
