Before anyone cared about followers, likes, or brand deals, there was Gossip Girl. A wild mix of rich teens, school uniforms, secrets, and scandals, it felt like pure drama. But when you look closer, it was ahead of its time. The show didn’t just predict the influencer era, it basically wrote the script. And here in Sri Lanka, where TikTok dances and brunch vlogs are the new big thing, the similarities are lowkey hilarious. Let’s break it down.
What is Gossip Girl?
Gossip Girl is an American teen drama that first aired in 2007. It starred Blake Lively and Leighton Meester as Serena van der Woodsen and Blair Waldorf, two fabulously dressed frenemies navigating the elite world of Manhattan's Upper East Side. They weren’t just students at a private school, they were fashion icons, tabloid magnets, and the original it-girls.
The plot? Juicy. Think: love triangles, betrayals, mysterious pasts, and an anonymous blogger who spills all their secrets. The twist? The blogger is one of them. But beyond the drama, Gossip Girl gave us a preview of the influencer lifestyle before Instagram was even a thing.
Everyone Was Already Obsessed with Image
From Blair’s headbands to Serena’s boho glam, fashion was practically its own character in the show. These girls were curating their looks like they were running a brand (which, in 2025 terms, is exactly what influencers do). If Serena posted an outfit pic today? It would break the internet. If Blair had a TikTok? She’d be the queen of "how to be THAT girl" content. Even their social standing was dependent on how they looked and how they acted in public. Sound familiar? Like how TikTokers freak out over lighting and angles before hitting record?
Even here in Sri Lanka, we’re seeing the same vibe. Galle Fort photoshoots, candle-lit dinner dates in Colombo, minimal outfit reels with indie music.
Gossip Girl Was the OG Algorithm
Let’s talk about the anonymous blogger who posted constant updates about everyone’s personal lives. That is literally what social media is now. Except now, it's not just one Gossip Girl, it’s everyone. We’re all constantly posting updates about ourselves and watching others post theirs. The algorithm is our new narrator, and it decides which tea gets spilled and which stories get buried. Dan Humphrey was basically a walking clickbait farm. Imagine him with a ring light.
They Knew the Power of the "Aesthetic"
Upper East Side brunches. Gossip Girl-era rooftop parties. Vintage Dior bags. These weren’t just plot settings; they were aesthetic goals. The show's visuals screamed "aspirational lifestyle," just like your favorite content creator’s carefully curated grid. Even here in Sri Lanka, we’re seeing the same vibe. Galle Fort photoshoots, candle-lit dinner dates in Colombo, minimal outfit reels with indie music. Everyone wants to look like they walked out of a Pinterest board, just like Blair and Serena did every episode.
Cancel Culture (Before It Was a Thing)
Let’s not pretend Gossip Girl wasn’t petty. One wrong move and you were socially dead. Serena disappeared for one summer and suddenly the entire Upper East Side was in shambles. Blair got dumped and boom, her social life was under review. Today? One badly worded tweet and you’re over. Back then? A poorly timed text or scandalous photo and you’d be exiled from the Met steps. It’s the same culture of callouts and comebacks, just in a different format.
Personal Branding Was Everything
Chuck Bass had his mysterious rich-boy persona. Blair was the queen bee. Serena was the effortlessly cool goddess. Nate was... well, hot. Each character had a personal brand stronger than half the influencers on the internet today. And they stuck to it. The idea of branding yourself based on your personality, aesthetic, and story arc. That’s the influencer game, in a nutshell. You’re not just a person anymore. You’re a mood, a vibe, a walking aesthetic reel. Even the drama was part of their brand.
Whether you’re posting your OOTD from One Galle Face Mall or vlogging your train ride to Ella, you’re playing the same game Blair and Serena did.
Tea Was Currency
Information was power. If you had the screenshots, the photos, the receipts? You were untouchable. Gossip Girl made it very clear, knowing what someone did last summer could make or break your social rank. Sounds a bit like TikTok expose videos, no? In Sri Lanka too, this vibe has crept in. University students filming each other for "tea," mini scandals going viral on Insta stories, TikTok comments turning into full-blown investigations. We’re not just watching the drama; we are the drama.
Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) and Surveillance Culture
Gossip Girl wasn’t just about drama. It created this feeling that everyone is watching. Which is literally what it feels like online today. Miss a trend? You're irrelevant. Skip an update? You're forgotten. Just like the UES crew lived in fear of what Gossip Girl would post, we now live in fear of being left out. Even local content creators feel the heat. One missed post and the engagement drops. The hustle is real, and it's giving Blair Waldorf under pressure.
It Was All for the Plot
Let’s be honest. Half the time, they were making terrible decisions for the drama. Serena dating her teacher? Blair scheming like a Bond villain? Dan publishing a book about all his friends? But guess what, we’re not that different. Creating drama "for the content" is practically a business strategy now. Oversharing, baiting, emotional clickbait, all in the name of views. In 2025, it’s not about what really happened. It’s about the plot.
Gossip Girl Walked So Influencers Could Run
So, what does all this mean? It means Gossip Girl was ahead of its time. Way ahead. It saw the rise of hypervisibility, image curation, personal branding, social surveillance, and viral drama, all wrapped up in designer handbags and high school angst. Now, it’s happening in real life. Whether you’re posting your OOTD from One Galle Face Mall or vlogging your train ride to Ella, you’re playing the same game Blair and Serena did. Just without the anonymous blog.
And honestly? It’s kind of iconic.
