The Rise of Religious Influencers on Social Media: Mark Wahlberg’s Hallow Ads Spark Controversy
In recent years, religious content has become a mainstay on social media platforms, with Christian influencers garnering millions of views and followers. One such influencer, actor Mark Wahlberg, has recently come under fire for his involvement with the prayer app Hallow.
Despite the positive reception of Hallow’s TikTok ads, some users have expressed surprise at seeing religious content in their social media feeds. Alex Jones, the chief executive of Hallow, acknowledged this reaction, stating that the company does not use specific targeting and does not want to force anything on anyone.
One TikTok user, Jessi Hood, a library circulation coordinator in Roanoke, Va., shared her experience of coming across Mark Wahlberg and Hallow on her For You page. Despite her initial skepticism, she downloaded the app out of curiosity but ultimately deleted it from her phone.
While some users have praised Hallow for its platform, others, like Brandi Howard, have expressed less interest in the app. However, the TikTok campaign seems to be sparking curiosity, with users like Mr. Schneider visiting the Hallow website and Ms. Hood downloading the app.
As religious influencers continue to gain traction on social media, the presence of ads like Hallow’s on platforms like TikTok is likely to become more common. The debate over the intersection of faith and social media is sure to continue as users navigate the influx of religious content in their feeds.
