What influence can expose.

In marketing, we spend a lot of time talking about what influence can sell. Not enough about what it can expose.

Right now, I'm watching that happen with the Cornell Seven case.

Content note: this post is about sexual assault. If that's not for you today, you can stop here.

A former Cornell student has sued the university, a fraternity and seven of its members, alleging she was sexually assaulted at the fraternity house in October 2024. The allegations are disputed.

One of the sickest parts? The lawsuit alleges a message was sent to a fraternity Snapchat group suggesting a woman upstairs was available for sex.

How does something like that get shared in a group chat?

And what responsibility does a platform like Snapchat have when something like this is happening? Could technology flag it? Should it?

Then I read about the consequences.

Cornell says its investigation led to suspensions, expulsions and other consequences. Her attorney says some of the accused got lesser sanctions that included writing essays.

Essays?!

An essay is what you write when you cheat on a test.

So many of us have our own stories of sexual misconduct. One of mine happened right here on LinkedIn.

Three years ago, I was a student trying to network with a speaker at my school. He later messaged me saying he wanted to give me a massage.

I cried at school that day.

I wanted a professional connection. He turned it into something else.

That's why seeing women speak up matters to me.

And look what happened here. After renewed public attention, prosecutors reopened the criminal investigation and said the evidence will go before a grand jury.

Social media isn't a courtroom. Evidence and due process matter.

But influence isn't just clicks, views and sales.

Sometimes it gets people to pay attention.

Sometimes it gives someone the confidence to speak.

And sometimes, people finally listen.