Essena O’Neill was a model and internet personality who, after achieving fame and what seemed like happiness, created a tell-all video stating that social media is a platform which enables users to create an inauthentic persona in order to gain the validation of others. She goes further to state that “nothing is perfect about spending every single day making your life look perfect online.” O’Neill’s statements prove to be characteristic of Van Dijck’s “neoliberal economic principles” of the culture of connectivity of contemporary social media platforms.
Van Dijck states that “connectivity derives from a continuous pressure - both from peers and technologies - to expand through competition and gain power through strategic alliances” (21) This relates directly to what O’Neill was describing; she stated that social media promotes a need of “proving ourselves to others.” Throughout O’Neill’s video she states that her motivation behind capturing well-produced photos for her Instagram profile were in an attempt to gain more followers, ‘likes’, and a higher level of fame. This is directly characteristic of the “platform tactics such as the popularity principle and ranking mechanisms…are firmly rooted in a ideology of that values, hierarchy, competition and a winner take all mid set” of which Van Dijck states (21). As O'Neill states, these social media platforms encourage the mind set that self-worth is found in the amount of followers and likes that one receives on social media, and this directly translates into the self-esteem that individuals hold outside of the internet as well.
O'Neill's video however depicts her personal experience with social media. Following her video, O'Neill faced a lot of backlash regarding the topic, especially from other social media personalities. One example would be Gabbie Hanna, who is host of the YouTube channel The Gabbie Show who released a response to O'Neill's original video. Hanna made some valid points, stating that just because O'Neill's experienced a lower self-esteem and self-worth through social media does not mean that this is everybody's experience. Hanna also discusses how social media has created a voice for many that did not have one. Hanna goes further to state that social media platforms are used in many influential aspects that are much more significant than an individual's Instagram profile (2015). Hanna's perspective on the discussion surrounding social media profiles, while definitely acknowledges Van Dijck's perspective on the "culture of connectivity", ultimately proves to be oppositional of her perspective. If I were to take a stance on this discussion, I would agree with Gabbie Hanna's statements.
O'Neill's video however depicts her personal experience with social media. Following her video, O'Neill faced a lot of backlash regarding the topic, especially from other social media personalities. One example would be Gabbie Hanna, who is host of the YouTube channel The Gabbie Show who released a response to O'Neill's original video. Hanna made some valid points, stating that just because O'Neill's experienced a lower self-esteem and self-worth through social media does not mean that this is everybody's experience. Hanna also discusses how social media has created a voice for many that did not have one. Hanna goes further to state that social media platforms are used in many influential aspects that are much more significant than an individual's Instagram profile (2015). Hanna's perspective on the discussion surrounding social media profiles, while definitely acknowledges Van Dijck's perspective on the "culture of connectivity", ultimately proves to be oppositional of her perspective. If I were to take a stance on this discussion, I would agree with Gabbie Hanna's statements.
References
Van Dijck, J. (2013). The culture of connectivity: A critical history of social media. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
O'Neill, E. (2015). Why I REALLY am quitting social media. YouTube.
Hanna, G. (2015). Social Media People Are Fake Response. YouTube.
Hanna, G. (2015). Social Media People Are Fake Response. YouTube.
Sarah this was a great post. I really liked how you tied Essena's motivation for capturing the perfect photo in order to gain more likes and followers. As it is a characteristic of the “platform tactics such as the popularity principle and ranking mechanisms…are firmly rooted in a ideology of that values, hierarchy, competition and a winner take all mid set” of which Van Dijck states (21). It is crazy the amount of pressure society puts on individuals today, that makes individuals think they need more followers and likes to feel a sense of validation.
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ReplyDeleteI really liked your post Sarah!! I enjoyed reading about the aftermath of her video seeing as I focussed more on why she posted it. I found it interesting how much backlash she had since her video felt authentic and raw. Learning that someone like Gabbie Hanna, a host of a YouTube channel released a response to O'Neill's original video. And how she made some valid points stating that "just because O'Neill's experienced a lower self-esteem and self-worth through social media does not mean that this is everybody's experience. Hanna also discusses how social media has created a voice for many that did". I found this to be a really interesting idea seeing as Essna really focused on the idea of the Internet as whole. And how you mentioned, did not focus on the postives of the Internet such as how social media has created a voice for many that did not have one.
ReplyDeleteIn reflecting on this, I see both sides. How influential social media has become and for someone like Essna who bought into the life of luxury and suffered the consequences. But after reading your response I think it is all about perspective and how you personally use social media. If you enjoy the unauthentic posts that Essna use to share that is your choice, but if you choose to share and explore the world in ways you couldn't have before then that is your choice as well.