The video GENERATION LIKE is about the importance of being accept by peers and the advantages advertising companies use to manipulate teenagers vulnerabilities. There are more topics presented in the video, but after watching, I felt glad not rely on social media for my self worth. Keeping in mind, the report has bias that I felt seeped into the video. If this is about how teens connect, than the reporter should have focused a few questions to the teens about what defines a friendship and had them describe their friendships.
Tyler, the video-personality that had 500 videos, gives the impression that he is cool and in charge. He starts by saying that he created his blog because his two friends moved away. Losing friends is hard at any age, but its not clear that he has found “true” friends with his blogging. Yes he has been offered great experiences, going to MTV awards, becoming famous. No one will deny he is business savvy and supports his charities. But the question is, has he made friends through blogging? The people on his show are after linking blog pages to get “likes”, it a using relationship or a business partnership, not a friendship.
The commentator, while talking with Kaylie Lynch, even stated “Its cool. When you get a “like”, people notice and starting following as well.” This statement can be interpreted in many ways, but positive. It was hard to tell if the commentator thought teens just followed the pack with no thought or that the teen posting was given an artificial popularity. It felt like Kaylie needed validation about herself. It is hard to base self-image on an item that will lose popularity. The HUNGER GAMES franchise is still strong, but the frenzy has died down and in a few years replaced.
Social media has “empowered”, “gives a voice”, “knows I’m there” were statement students have made. Then the commentator states, “media gives teens a voice for anyone wanting to listen.” This really gives a negative perspective of social media. To further impact the manipulation of social media, corporations use youth to promote products. The young skate boarder started out skating because he like the sport. He evolves to acting outlandish to keep views. The social pressure for him behave in borderline behavior to keep views is appalling, but then to have companies pay him, not in cash put in products, is ridiculous and shameful. Companies would pay thousands to reach the same audience the skate boarder reaches, yet he is given a skateboard. I’m not sure having a middle schooler dance shirtless between two grown women just for amusement is promoting the best future for the skate boarding youth.
There were a few more stories, but all them had the same feel, that the satisfaction of popularity was temporary, companies were using unwitting teens for advertising, and the term friendship has a different meaning.
There was no mention of how the teens feel if there are few or no “likes” to a page. Here is one video my sons watched in school.
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