The culture of Los Angeles has been heavily Mexican and Hispanic based for centuries now. The food, music, and other parts of Latino culture is what makes LA what it is today. However, with social media on the rise, it seems people have forgotten the roots of LA culture and misinterpreted it for a social media dominated city. 

Mexican and Hispanic culture can be traced back all the way to when the city was first founded in 1781 by the Pobladores. Of course, as the culture has adapted and modernized, so has Los Angeles. Now, this city is considered to be a great representation of Mexican culture and heritage. 

However, one invention has caused a drastic change in the way LA is viewed today: social media. As social media grew, so did the shift between it being a platform to connect with others to a platform where people have grown a large following by posting different parts of their life. These days people can even become “celebrities” through social media, being known as an influencer. 

The official definition of a social media influencer is someone who has built influence or power through social media. Virtually, one can become an influencer on any social media platform. Because of their large audiences, these influencers are responsible for most of the trends we see today.

As influencers become more and more popular, it seems they always end up in Los Angeles. There seems to be a stigma around Los Angeles because of Hollywood that it is a place where celebrities go to fulfill their careers. However, the criteria of being an influencer has gotten easier and easier, and there has been a surplus of them moving into Los Angeles. 

Of course, with this immigration of influencers, the culture and atmosphere of LA has undergone some changes. The likeliness of you looking out the window while driving down a street in Los Angeles and seeing an influencer is far from slim. However, it is important to remember that the hispanic culture still stands true today. 

Kealia Amorin (11) states, “What you see on the internet is trendy influencer places, people like tiktokers and other rich people are not going to be at your local carniceria and documenting it but that does not mean that traditional places do not exist anymore.” 

Sure, you may see your favorite influencer at this super trendy coffee shop after they went shopping at the most current trending stores, but that is just a small part of LA that is being shown through social media. You will still find the hidden gems of LA that serve the best Mexican food you will find in the city. 

It is important to remember that even though social media may portray LA in a certain way, there is still a large sense of hispanic culture that is present in LA and has shaped the city to be what it is today.