Imagine rising to internet fame, only to have millions plot your downfall for fun. For a moment, someone could be on top of the world, and the next, the target of a mass unfollowing For Vexbolts and Ash Trevino, 2024 are the victims of getting “left behind.”
Vexbolts, a TikTok creator who produces comedic content, was a victim of the mass unfollowing. The creator’s downfall was initially arranged as a joke; where many users planned to follow and unfollow him on December 31, 2024 and would ultimately “leave him behind”. Instead of fighting the trend, Vexbolts leaned into the direction of it and played along. This decision completely boosted Vextbolts fame and turned it into gold. Vexbolts filmed parody PSAs, handed out flyers promoting this event, and even squeezed every last meme until his burial. Vexbolts did a great job promoting the event, as he had up to nearly 8 millions followers. By the time the clock struck 11:59 p.m. on December 31, 2024, Vexbolts lost approximately 5 million followers, still initially gaining a few million followers than he had originally. Not only had he dodged the irrelevance, but Vexbolts turned out to have earned millions of followers in the end.
Ash Trevino, a lifestyle influencer on TikTok known for her polished aesthetic, found herself in a similar situation. Early in the year, she found herself at the center of controversy. Many allegations of the inauthenticity and questionable content very rapidly spiraled into a viral trend, encouraging people to hit the unfollow button. Quickly becoming apart of another mass unfollowing, #UnfollowAsh was instantly trending, and thousands followed. For some time, it seemed like being an influencer would not be an option anymore. Instead of retreating, Ash Trevino addressed the backlash. In an emotional video, she owned up to her actions in the past, promising to do better. After tons of viewers watched that touching video, it struck a chord in many, gaming more than she’s ever seen before. This is nothing short of Ash Trevino’s historic “redemption arc.”
These few stories of Vexbolts and Ash Trevino strike as reminders of how unpredictable the internet can be. In a world where being “canceled” or “left behind” felt like the end, these two simply lived their own story, turning these disasters into defining moments in their careers.