Brits turn to ‘celeb ‘gurus’ for life advice on social media

Notable celebrities including Michelle Obama, Tom Hanks and Jennifer Aniston have been named among the most influential ‘gurus’ whose advice Britons seek on social media platforms.

Among 2,000 adults surveyed, it was revealed that 32% actively follow these high-profile figures in order to gain insights into their lifestyle. Fitness mogul Joe Wicks, Hollywood‘s Will Smith and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson are a few others who topped the popularity stakes.

Nearly half (46%) of those surveyed professed an affinity towards inspirational quotes with a majority (52%) stating they evoke positivity. And around 45%, claim to derive inspiration often from the celebrities they follow and roughly 39% state these posts offer them a daily boost.

In terms of athletes, David Beckham, Mo Farah, and Jose Mourinho were found to be people Britons are most inclined to seek life advice from.

Conducted by Snickers, the research was part of a campaign that created an AI version of iconic football manager Jose Mourinho which offers motivational quotes and tips, transforming 10 of his most inspiring sayings into social memes.

Sergio Peniche from Mars Wrigley had this to say regarding the campaign: “You can find inspiration anywhere – in a book, a piece of music – or a celebrity’s Instagram account”

“We are delighted to launch the AI powered version of Jose Mourinho, enabling fans to receive insights directly from ‘The Special One’ himself. In a time when inspiration and positive reinforcement are vital, we hope to inspire individuals to live their best lives with a dose of Mourinho’s iconic wisdom.”

According to the research, one in ten adults say such quotes are motivational when their football teams aren’t performing up to par. It was Jose Mourinho, a stalwart of the Premier League, who was selected by 34% of respondents as having delivered the most inspirational management speeches.

His top-rated phrase is the profound ‘The most important part of everything is to be happy’, followed by the hard-hitting coaching advice, ‘You have to work hard AND well. There are a lot of people who work hard, but not well’.

But it was his unforgettable introduction to English football where he coined himself ‘A special one’ that saw 12% of pollers voting for him as the most inspiring.

Sergio Peniche said: “Jose holds a special place in the hearts of not only football fans, but Brits in general. His unusual take on life, which generally led him to success everywhere he managed, is something many could aspire to.”