Group Research Paper Final Draft (1)

docx

School

Houston Community College *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

1302

Subject

English

Date

Apr 3, 2024

Type

docx

Pages

Uploaded by forsabfam

1 Melinda, Princess, Louie, and Maraky Professor Lopez English 1302 9 February 2024 The Guide to an Influencer’s Influence In the 21st century, living without a cellular device or electrical source of communication makes life ten times harder than the average person. These devices open a new world of possibilities for generations; from simple line-to-line communication to sharing cat videos, phones are used for dozens of reasons. Phones are mainly used for entertainment, watching streaming websites, engaging on social media platforms, and scrolling through an endless wave of world news articles. Keying in on social media platforms, some individuals have taken advantage of its widespread engagement. Self-proclaimed influencers, along with established celebrities, are people who use their status and fame to socially influence a population’s opinion on any particular thing. Amid constant backlash, modern influencers and celebrities have the responsibility to lead by example, use their influence for the betterment of society, and be more relatable when it comes to engaging with younger audiences. Do not be a follower, they say. In all honesty, intentional or not, we all follow someone or something, especially as we see celebrities and influencers all over social media. If adults who understand how the world works get influenced easily by the celebrities we adore, imagine what it would be like for kids. The minds of young children have not fully developed yet to make their own decisions, and they do not understand right from wrong. In the younger generation, it is becoming a trending topic that the usage of traditional media (Shrum et al., 2011) and social media (Thoumrungroje, 2018) are associated with the younger generations’ level of materialism.

2 If young kids are growing up, they will constantly witness celebrities and influencers have materialistic things they see on social media. Teenagers would not want to live without it as they see influencers/celebrities constantly do reviews over clothing products, styling expensive clothing, and possessing a large number of designer shoes. Growing up as a young child seeing materialistic things regarded as a primary source of happiness, they will grow up depending on material items to be happy in life. As a plus for smaller companies, the number of brand- sponsored influencer posts has multiplied between 2016 and 2020 (Statista, 2020). As TikTok blew up these past years, there have become more and more influencers which businesses have taken advantage of by offering sponsorships. As they see these influencers have a big influence over what they are following, especially young children. As the influencers advertise for these materialistic things they just think it’s a way they can make quick money without the thought of what the impact would be on children as they see their role models. They are drilling a hole that has no oil at the end. Now that we live in a modern society, note that whatever we put on social media, affects everyone, especially teenagers. The most critical part of child development is during adolescence because children start to know what is right and wrong. It is statistically proven that more than half of the population uses different types of social media. Therefore, influencers must produce appropriate content to set an example for their followers. For example, the NBA has a rule regarding cursing. Anytime someone curses on life air, they have to pay a sum of money to charity. Notable billionaire Mark Cuban donated $30,000 to charity when he cursed during an NBA game. During an on-court interview, he accidentally said the F-word and was informed he would have to pay a $30,000 fine. Instead of getting irritated, he dropped another F-bomb knowing that he would now donate $60,000 to charity. The audience applauded him and many

3 looked up to him as a role model since he made a difference in the community. Many of his audience admired him for donating money. This led to a percentage of his audience directly donating money to different charities. Influencers can positively impact the world by using their voice. As we know, many people use social media as news. If influencers use their platform to change the world for a better place, we could make changes, since they are informing their audience about how to solve the issue. Even though influencers have different types of audiences, if all influencers unite and try to change the world for the better, we will impact the community. In a social media-driven world, influencers and celebrities effectively engage with younger audiences by fostering relatability through storytelling, shared experiences, and an unfiltered connection beyond conventional celebrity personalities. For instance, millennials could relate to the funny, homemade videos that early YouTube stars posted on the platform, which led to them gaining millions of fans within a decade (Gale). Moreover, influencers and celebrities often reveal details from their personal life, demonstrating honesty and vulnerability. They foster a sense of belonging with their viewers by expressing their hardships, achievements, and everyday challenges. This sincere approach builds trust and appeals to younger generations who value authentic relationships over fake appearances. The collaborative component of social media enables direct involvement, creating an environment where followers are respected and understood, increasing relatability. This lively interaction of sharing stories and experiences strengthens the bond between influencers/celebrities and their younger fans, rendering the relationship long-lasting. Many celebrities give eager fans a glimpse into their everyday life by posting candid photos on Facebook and Instagram, including their thoughts and opinions via Twitter (Gale). By showcasing candid moments and expressing genuine opinions, these

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

4 prominent individuals bridge the gap between fame and their supporters' everyday lives. This honest expression allows followers to recognize celebrities as more relatable humans going through similar situations in life, which enhances the connection between the celebrities and their audience. It elevates the celebrity-fan relationship from a distant adoration to a more sympathetic relationship, as fans find pieces of their own life portrayed in the lives of these public figures. With younger generations fawning over famous influencers, millennials insist their ascendancy is a cancer to global society. For starters, older generations assume celebrities are causing more harm than good due to their inflated sense of status, clogging up the news with meaningless problems (Hume). It is a problem because it floods a valuable source of communication used globally with nonsense and shifts attention away from the importance of world events. Some choice influencers let the public know too much about their personal lives. It is not a good look for celebrities who focus on exacerbating the image of a role model by staining the same image with paraphernalia charges. Celebrities hiding behind their TV person is another reason why celebrities receive substandard credit. Everyone has heard of celebrities being extremely rude to fans and strangers, only apologizing when caught, with their publicist releasing a statement on their part. These same people experience immeasurable consequences as opposed to any regular rude stranger encountered on the street. Although influencers can bait viewers into unwanted consumerism and question body image, many of these same audiences have choices. Depending on their personality, certain bellwethers take pride in pushing their morals through on their platforms, such as James Stephen Donaldson (Mr. Beast) building 100 wells in Africa. Some only endorse products they utilize and are not just in it for the commission sales. Principally, placing every social media influencer into a pessimistic category is a generalization. It is unfair to the individual who is much deeper than how people perceive them

5 through a screen. In conclusion, modern influencers and celebrities hold remarkable power and influence over younger generations and should be responsible enough to become avid role models, use their popular following for the betterment of the world, and nourish much more relatable connections with their young followers. By embodying positive values, advocating for important causes, and engaging authentically with their audience, influencers and celebrities can contribute to the positive development and well-being of 21st-century adolescents, shaping a brighter and more informed future for the world.

6 Annotated Bibliography Princess Forsab: "Celebrity Culture." Gale Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection , Gale, 2018. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints , link.gale.com/apps/doc/PC3010999095/OVIC? u=txshracd2512&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=eccf1572. Accessed 29 Jan. 2024. The emergence of celebrity culture, facilitated by technological progress and media evolution, has redefined fame, transcending traditional fields to encompass individuals from diverse backgrounds. Social media platforms, endorsements, and activism have granted celebrities unprecedented influence, shaping not only entertainment but also societal perceptions, consumer choices, and political landscapes. This cultural shift highlights the intricate interplay between fame, technology, and influence in shaping our modern social order. Melinda Winston: Hume, Mick. "Celebrity Culture Should Be Criticized." Celebrity Culture , edited by Roman Espejo, Greenhaven Press, 2011. Opposing Viewpoints. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints , link.gale.com/apps/doc/EJ3010738208/OVIC? u=txshracd2512&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=c6604858. Accessed 30 Jan. 2024. Originally published as "When Celebrities Rule the Earth," Spiked , 2006. Hume alleges that celebrities must be criticized because their offensive actions showcase the reality of the world. For example, the involvement of popular Hollywood actors, actresses, and figures in African countries highlights typical Western World attitudes and policies. The author adds that obsessive media coverage of the negative side of celebrities’ personal lives demonstrates how the line between the public and private is being disrespected. As a result, these influencers, unlike politicians, are not held accountable for the damage they cause, Hume concludes. Maraky Kebede: Kolotouchkina, Olga, et al. "Digital Media and Younger Audiences." Media and Communication , vol. 11, no. 4, Nov. 2023, pp. 124+. Gale Academic OneFile , link.gale.com/apps/doc/A779499367/AONE?u=txshracd2512&sid=bookmark- AONE&xid=762ecd51. Accessed 30 Jan. 2024. Influencers and celebrities have the responsibility to lead by example especially as more and more kids are getting access to the internet. As these kids are watching influencers and celebrities they are unable to differentiate if they're lying as we know kids are gullible. It’s not okay for kids to stumble onto appropriate content on

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

7 these social media. They shouldn't have access to everything that should stay private so easily. Louie Rodriguez: Peter, Christina, and Luisa Muth. "Social Media Influencers' Role in Shaping Political Opinions and Actions of Young Audiences." Media and Communication , vol. 11, no. 3, Aug. 2023, pp. 164+. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints , link.gale.com/apps/doc/A779352517/OVIC?u=txshracd2512&sid=bookmark- OVIC&xid=b12c3d99. Accessed 30 Jan. 2024. Influencers can positively impact the world by using their voice. As we know, many people use social media as news. They also rely on these influencers who have a variety of audiences. If influencers use their platform to change the world for a better place, we would be able to make a change, since they’re informing their audience about how to solve the issue. If all of the influencers unite and try to change the world for the better, we will make an impact on the community.

Group Research Paper Final Draft (1)

Related Documents