The Rise of “Authenticity” in PR: How Much Should Public Figures Really Share?

We get it—authenticity is the word of the decade. Audiences don’t just want curated Instagram photos of your breakfast anymore; they want to know what you’re really like. Are you stressed? Do you have a cat named Mr. Fluffy? How’s your mental health, by the way? While this all sounds nice, there’s a reason public figures didn’t share their innermost thoughts 10 years ago: sometimes, it’s better to keep a little mystery.

The Pros of Being Authentic:

• Builds trust and loyalty.

• Makes you relatable. People like knowing you, too, struggle with getting out of bed when you just want to chill with a Nandos.

• Creates strong emotional connections (everyone loves the "just like us" vibe).

The Risks of Over-Sharing:

• Overexposure. No one needs to know that much about your dog’s gastrointestinal issues.

• Loss of privacy. The more you share, the more people want to know (and they will keep asking).

• Scrutiny. Because once you’ve opened the door to your personal life, everyone’s peeking through the keyhole.

• Removes the “public figure” vibe, makes you the same as everyone else.

While being authentic has its perks, oversharing can quickly tip the scales into "too much information." It’s a balancing act that, when done right, can make you a star—but when done wrong, can make you the next meme (and not the good kind).