I've already written about this before, but I'm going to go into more detail this time. Social media is ruining our lives, in yet more ways. People are buying into consumerism just because an influencer or celebrity posts them doing something. Do we all remember that video Hailey Bieber posted where she eats sushi in a face mask, and suddenly it became a huge trend?
The reason I'm writing this is because earlier I was talking to my mum about what career path I want to take, and if you've been following for a while, you will know that my dream is to become a journalist in fashion media. It used to be pretty easy to pump your writing into the world, via blogs, articles, publications... physical media that the public actually read. The only real way to get your business (in my case, writing) out into the world in this age is by starting a social media account, and entering the influencer world, which means engaging in trends that change by the minute.
I suppose I've only been on social media for the past 5-6 years. I'm not sure whether it was different pre-Covid, but I feel that everyone started TikTok/Instagram/YouTube accounts whilst stuck at home. This was at least the time for prime YouTube, where it was almost easy to post a video and receive many views. Then TikTok launched and soared in popularity. Scrolling became the new hobby for most teenagers and adults, and now we enter this age of influencing as an occupation?
This is why we need to bring back physical media. This is why it is so important to teach the younger generation to find interest in art. To explore literature, and plays, and films, and artworks that question our society. We want to be different and interesting - and copying people who dance (if you call it that, more waving your hands with zero energy, an insult to actual dance) or eat sushi with a face mask on merely shows how as a society we are being hypnotised.
Another question is over whether social media is also influencing racism and sexism. Perhaps feminism is being affected by 'trad' wives who post videos presenting their ideal life - the reason for the sudden book hit, 'Yesteryear' - which I read not long ago (it is not worth the hype).
I'm not sure what I'm trying to get out of this post, but I would like to hear your guys' views, if you got this far !
bye angels !!
Omg I was JUST watching video essays about this last night. I had zero idea they were so obsessed with Hailey Bieber. And don't even get me started on the sticker gems after Kylie Jenner made them popular; there is nothing whimsical about overconsumption. I've been off tiktok for 3 years now, and there's always some dumb shit going on over there.
ReplyDeleteAnd about your fashion journalism aspiration, I think now that people are waking up against influencer culture, you will do great in staying true to how you want to deliver your message. Hell, make your own magazine! (I'd read it); although I may be biased because I love magazines. But I think there's always space for commentary of these things within the fashion industry, you know? Fashion is about self-expression, not micro-trends.
Yes, I totally agree! I've actually been trying to get off social media completely because it's been so detrimental to me. I think it can be useful but like you said it does encourage blind consumerism & I think it definitely encourages hatred & negativity. But I will say, there is a corner of these social media spaces filled with people who love physical media & appreciate the uniqueness of art made by actual people. I feel like people in these spaces would love to actually read your stuff (I would!)
ReplyDeleteI totally agree but I also want to say that you can use social media to your advantage, to some degree. For example I follow people with thoughts that are aligned to my own. I try to follow as many different looking people as possible so I don't fall into the "If I'm not skinny/free of lines/whatever trend then I'm not worth it or pretty".
ReplyDeletePutting a time limit on your social media consumption is algo a good idea, if you feel like you still want to be part of it.
In any case I don't think we need it and with so many celebrities, influencers and AI spamming our surroundings, I'm sure people will go back to magazines, and reading real content soon enough. People are already coming back to DVDs and physical copies of games because they do not agree on where technology is going.