In light of the recent allegations against Cheyenne Bryant, I think it’s time we had a serious conversation about the rise of self-proclaimed “experts” who don’t know their asses from a hole in the wall.

Social media has created an entire economy built on confidence, not competence. Folks gather a ring light, memorize a few therapy buzzwords, speak in an authoritative tone, and suddenly they’re treated like scholars, clinicians, life coaches, spiritual guides, and prophets rolled into one. Meanwhile, actual expertise—the kind built through years of study, ethics, accountability, and experience—gets drowned out by charisma and viral clips.

Too many people today confuse influence with intelligence. And these same people, starving for answers and healing, give shysters credibility without ever asking the most important question: “What actually qualifies you to speak on this?”

A degree alone doesn’t make someone wise. A platform alone doesn’t make someone trustworthy. And millions of followers damn sure don’t make someone right.

We are living in an era where performance is masquerading as professionalism. Everybody wants to be seen as an authority, but very few people want to do the hard, unglamorous work of truly becoming one.

And honestly? Some of these internet “experts” are one motivational quote away from exposing that they’ve been winging it the whole damn time.