The Effect of Social Media on Celebrity

Part 1

Celebrity.

There was a time when this word conjured up images of red velvet ropes, exclusive parties and a separation from the common man or woman. Actors, sports professionals, musicians and Movie Stars (because let's face it you don't have to be an actor to be a movie star) *ONSCREEN Video clip of Kevin Costner as Robin Hood pause for delivery of lines*. We put these people on a solid gold pedestal. They were elite and generally viewed as untouchable. There was something about this pedestal paradigm that was exciting but at the same time disheartening. No matter how much you felt a connection to Madonna, she was never going to actually read your fan mail or ever have a conversation with you about her favorite songs. Tom Cruise was never going to be your jogging buddy *ON SCREEN GIF of Tom Cruise running*

Enter the age of the Internet. Chat rooms, Myspace and eventually this thing called Facebook. Facebook was marketed mostly towards the general public to connect with friends and family, but then one day you stumble upon Beyonce's Facebook Page and suddenly you have a more direct way to connect to your favorite celeb. From there Twitter shattered the invisible wall between hand gestures quotation marks "US" and "THEM".

Or did it?

Yes, We now can cheer on Eli Manning before the game *ONSCREEN text GO GIANTS!* and we get to see pictures of NPH's beautiful family *ONSCREEN Instagram of NPH's Family* but is this not just some sort of looking glass into the lives of celebrities? We don't get to actually have a conversation with Tom Hiddleston *ONSCREEN photo of Tom Hiddleston looking sincere* or share a pint with Dom Monaghan *ONSCREEN Short clip of Meriadoc Brandybuck drinking a pint at the Prancing Pony* and there is still not a high likelihood that they will read or even respond to our tweets.

This world of social media is still fairly foreign to many. And although it is clearly a solution to one problem *ONSCREEN text Pedestal Paradigm* it has created its own issues. People adrift in a sea of a thousand voices; our comments and opinions get lost in the sheer volume of comments and opinions on social media sites. Getting lost in the crowd is somehow worse than never existing.

So what is the solution? Is there a solution? Is this really even a problem? Should we just treat celebrities like we do our coworkers *ONSCREEN photo of Gary Cole from Office Space* and simply say hello in passing, only get involved in conversation if ever the situation calls for it? Should we just go about our lives like celebrities are the people on the executive floor who we will probably never actually meet, but know the names of and what they do for a living?

Perhaps we need to look at why we love celebrities. Is it merely the entertainment they provide us? Is it what they have or what we think they do? Is it the perfect life we believe they lead? Perhaps when we, as a people, are all self-actualized, celebrity worship will no longer exist? But until that day comes or the Zombie Apocalypse *ONSCREEN short clip of Walking Dead* ( which ever happens first) we are left to wonder if Twitter might be a segue for something even more intimate that will completely blur the lines *ONSCREEN text resisting urge to show clip from Robin Thicke's video "Blurred Lines"* between celebrity and, well, everyone else?

There is a potential benefit to a faster way to communicate with famous folks. Let's say you have a well-thought-out idea for a song, movie or book and you would like to share it with the world. Or maybe you do feel an honest connection to Emma Watson *ONSCREEN photo of Emma Watson* and it turns out she's actually a very cool person with whom you have a lot in common. Or maybe there is someone out there that shares your views and interests and also starred in a movie with Tara Reid and Ian Ziering *ONSCREEN Clip of Conspiracy Clerk from Sharknado with text #PepperJack* I mean in the end we are all just people. Right?

Usher in the YouTube star. Perhaps this is the beginning of the new chapter of stardom. Perhaps the Tyler Oakley's, Grace Helbig's *ONSCREEN clip of MTV Awards Favorite Vlogger award recipients* and even the Lizzie Bennett's *ONSCREEN photo of Lizzie Bennett* of the world are what will come to mind when we think of Celebrity. A recent survey by Variety Magazine (link below) shows that the YouTube star has become more appreciated by American teens than mainstream celebs, citing that teens prefer the "intimate and authentic experience with YouTube celebrities, who aren't subject to image strategies carefully orchestrated by PR pros. Teens also say they appreciate YouTube stars' more candid sense of humor, lack of filter and risk-taking spirit, behaviors often curbed by Hollywood handlers".

This begs the question, if anyone can be celebrity, will lose its superior status? If we can all be special then perhaps no one is special? Or perhaps the distinction will just be as simple as the Viewer and the Viewed.

It will be interesting and exciting to see where the Vlog movement takes us.

What do you think? What do you like/dislike about social media's effect on celebrity? Do you feel a separation from celebrity or does social media bring you closer? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

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http://variety.com/2014/digital/news/survey-youtube-stars-more-popular-than-mainstream-celebs-among-u-s-teens-1201275245/