opinion leaders
Voices others follow
Opinion leaders are individuals whose views, endorsements, or behaviors influence others within a community or field.
The term originated in marketing and political science to describe people who shape attitudes not through formal authority but through expertise, visibility, or social standing.
In the age of social media, opinion leaders include influencers whose recommendations drive consumer choices: Brand managers court opinion leaders to generate buzz.
- influencerPerson with promotional reach
- trendsettingInitiating popular movements
- spokespersonAuthorized representative communicator
- punditProfessional opinion-giver
- talking headsChest-up video commentators
impact · agenda setting · public intellectuals · think tanks · expert · authorities · advocate · commentary · hot takes · rhetoric · media influence · social media · public perception · persuasion techniques · public figures · groupthink · cancel culture · media framing
opinion leadersfollowers
People who support someone
silent majority · conformists · sheep · the masses · rank and file
opinion leadersthe masses
Common populace collectively
ordinary citizens · rank and file · common people · everyday people · nobodies
opinion leaderssilent majority
Presumed moderate, publicly mute multitude
listeners · lurkers · nonparticipants · spectators · bystanders
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