For Gen Z, nothing kills credibility faster than trying too hard. Teens say they can spot inauthenticity a mile away, and when influencers lean into over-produced content or exaggerated attempts at being “relatable,” it doesn’t land — it’s cringe.

“The motorcycle helmet guy … he tries to act quirky, but it just fails. It’s so bad,” one SheKnows Teen Council member said in a recent group discussion. The others groaned in agreement, pointing to creators who try to engineer weirdness instead of letting it happen naturally.

Authenticity, on the other hand, is non-negotiable. Teens prefer influencers who embrace a messy, chaotic energy that feels real, even if it’s imperfect. In their world, trying to be “quirky” on purpose is embarrassing; actually being weird without effort is cool.

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