Social Media and Celebrities

With the development of the internet and rapid growth of social media, our access to celebrity culture has also progressed. Instead of having to wait outside (for what felt like an eternity, in horrendous weather conditions) just to get the tiniest glimpse of our fave famous people, we now have a front row seat to pretty much every aspect of their lives. We possibly know more about celebrities private lives than ever before and this information can be shared virally and instantaneously for our own enjoyment. Yay!

One-Direction-Premiere-Leicester-Square-2190442

http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/one-direction-premiere - Desperate teens waiting for the One Direction: This Is Us Film Premier create "Camp Direction" (which arguably, already existed!)

I remember first being introduced to the cult of “online fame” when I was 14. It was 2005, I had just created my MySpace account (n'awww) and almost instantly found myself fascinated with the “MySpace Whores” and “Scene Queens” - who had somehow managed to gain over 10,000 online “friends” (seriously – how?)

There were two particularly avid MySpace users who lived near me when I was growing up, they had heavy edited profile pictures and usually hid behind ridiculous fringes which made it near impossible to recognise them in person. However, a year or so later, we (me and my now ex-boyfriend) had organised a charity band night to which one of these "Scene Queens" arrived expecting free entry. I told her that there was no guest list - being a charity event and all, and her response was “do you know who I am?”. I said no and one of her posy paid her three quid entry.

That was my first ever encounter with someone sort-of-famous, apart from meeting Stephen Mulhern when I was about eight at Butlins. (I will try to find the picture, I promise!)

Following this, in 2008-09 Twitter took off, allowing us to stalk actual, real-life celebrities(!). In a desperate attempt for social acceptance, hundreds of thousands of us mindlessly attempt to create conversation and gain them as followers. Why – because it’s better to pretend that we’re friend with cool people than acknowledge our own pathetic lives. This need for online attention was taken to another level with "internet trolls" whos sole intention is to use social media to create arguments, insult and upset others. I have never met a real life troll, but I can only assume that they are socially inept individuals who act as keyboard warriors to displace unhappiness that they have with their own lives - probably the fact they still live with their mum, fail at social interaction and can't level up on Word of Warcraft. AND IF THEY EVER MEET YOU. THEY WILL KILL YOU. AND YOUR FAMILY. AND YOUR DOG.