ATLANTA – A new study ranks Georgia in the top 5 states filled with the most wannabe social media stars dreaming of being influencers.

Release:

• A new study has identified the top states where people are hoping to make an income out of sharing their life on social media, with those in Florida proving to be the most eager 
• The study analyzed nationwide Google searches around launching a career in the industry to reveal where is the keenest to do so
• Home to many of the top influencers, the US was responsible for 75% of the global influencer marketing spend last year 
• While those in Florida are looking to put themselves in the spotlight online, New Mexico residents would prefer to keep their personal lives private

New data has revealed which states are filled with the most wannabe social media stars, with Florida dreaming of the influencer lifestyle the most.

The research, pulled together by Online Casino Comparison Website Kajino, analyzed nationwide Google search volume for keywords related to becoming an influencer over the last 12 months, to identify which states are searching about how to effectively harness enough fame online to make a living.

It’s no surprise many Americans are tempted by the concept as the industry is thriving, with businesses investing a significant amount of their marketing budgets in influencing marketing.

2023 saw the global influencer marketing value reach $21.1 billion, and – with the US boasting some of the most famous social media stars – the nation was responsible for 75% of the global influencer marketing spend. 

And it turns out the thought of being a big name online has the biggest pull to those in Florida. The state averaged 79.8 monthly searches per 100k residents, which is a huge 49% higher than the US average of 53.5. 

Georgia is the second state most obsessed by the world of online influencing, with 78.2 searches per 100k – 46% higher than the national average. In third is New York, which is still 42% above at 75.9 searches per 100k. 

The ten states most obsessed with becoming social media stars 

	State	Average Monthly Search Volume Per 100k
1	Florida	79.8
2	Georgia	78.2
3	New York	75.9
4	Utah	72.1
5	Nevada	71.0
6	New Jersey	70.3
7	Delaware	66.7
8	California	64.9
9	Texas	63.1
10	North Carolina	61.8

On the other end of the scale, New Mexico residents don’t see the fascination with gaining that blue tick next to their username, with only 33.8 searches per 100k, which is 37% below the US average. 

Behind New Mexico as the second-least interested is West Virginia, with people in the state looking for information on the potential career 32% less than the average American, with 36.6 searches per 100k. Closely following in third is Montana with 36.9 monthly searches – 31% below the national average. 

While it’s unclear the exact reason for the difference between the states, it could reflect how heavily social media is integrated into the lives of those living in each area, and therefore how much it’s considered a valid career prospect by residents.   

The ten states least interested in becoming social media stars

	State	Average Monthly Search Volume Per 100k
1	New Mexico	33.8
2	West Virginia	36.6
3	Montana	36.9
4	Alaska	41.4
5	Maine	42.1
6	Iowa	42.4
7	South Dakota	43.6
8	Kentucky	43.8
9	Wyoming	44.0
10	Wisconsin	44.1

Commenting on the findings, Hekima Yoshida from Kajino says: “Since its invention, social media’s presence in society has continued to grow – and it doesn’t look like it’ll slow down anytime soon. In fact, each year brings more opportunities for growth thanks to the creation of new social media platforms, and more brands willing to collaborate with influencers.  

“Not only – if done successfully – does an influencer lifestyle come with a generous salary, but it also has flexible hours that can often be carried out from anywhere in the world. It’s no wonder it’s an attractive prospect for many young people – especially the opportunity to create content about their interests.  

“However, being so heavily in the public eye can have downsides. Many influencers talk of the struggles of having details of their personal lives scrutinized, which is perhaps a con that outweighs the pros for certain states, such as Florida and Georgia.”