Blog Post 1- Micro Celebrities
Micro Celebrity definition: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_celebrity#:~:text=A%20micro%2Dcelebrity%2C%20also%20known,present%20themselves%20as%20public%20figures.
A micro-celebrity, also known as a micro-influencer, is a person famous within a niche group of users on a social media platform. Micro-celebrities often present themselves as public figures
In the age of social media, traditional celebrities are no longer the only ones with a large following. The rise of micro-celebrities, or influencers with a smaller following, has become a trend in recent years. These influencers may have anywhere from a few thousand to a few hundred thousand followers, but they still have significant impact and engagement with their audience.
One of the main benefits of micro-celebrities is their ability to connect with their followers on a personal level. They often have a niche audience that shares similar interests, and their content is tailored to that specific group. This means that their followers are more likely to trust their recommendations and engage with their content.Micro celebrities have also been credited with helping to democratize the influencer industry. With a smaller following, they don't have the same level of influence over the general public as traditional celebrities, but they still have a significant impact within their niche community. This means that people from all walks of life can become influencers and make a living from their passion.
But as anyone on the internet or social media constantly, we all know someone that is a micro-celebrity, or so we think… Fans that follow these celebrities like Sam and Colby, Chali D’amilio, Strunolio Triplets, and more all think that they know and understand these influencers. Yet, people really don't know who these people are in real life. We think of them as friends or people we look up to as they speak to us as if we are in the room with them.
Pictures of some well known micro celebrities:
Logan Paul https://www.youtube.com/@loganpaulvlogs
Daz games https://www.youtube.com/@dazgames
Yet, micro celebrities are actually used as branding and marketing tactics. We have all seen youtube videos with our favorite content creators sharing something that “they love'' and expressing that they are “so lucky to work with this brand” when in reality they get paid thousands or millions to authentically sell this brand to more consumers. A few big brands come to my mind when I speak of this idea such as Better Help, an online therapy website, Hello Fresh online groceries, or Face wash brushes (as seen many times on Tana Mongeau’s channel).
Although these people are some that we as fans and content social media users look up to, I would like to share some facts about Micro celebrities to give you perspective on what goes on behind the scenes. As talked about in Comm 2F00, We develop a Parasocial relationship with micro influencers, meaning that we develop psychological connections to that person online, as if we know them in true form and in person (Chen, Michelle.2024). This also means that whether we know it or not the relationship is one sided with false intimacy and friendship. Although we all know that we aren't truly friends with these influencers, I want you to think about the many times that you sat in your room listening to YouTube or Tik Tok, thinking about how much you love this person or how much you relate to this person. Although it is not a bad thing as we all think this way, I think we have to check ourselves sometimes and face the reality of not knowing the person that we look up to on the internet.
An example of a para-social interaction/relationship:
All in all, I hope you use the links that I have provided to better learn about this topic of Micro celebrities, but I wanted to start the conversation. This concept of Micro Celebrities is very interesting and prevalent in our day to day lives with social media being a huge influence on how we interact on a day to day basis. Hope you enjoyed and tune back next time for more Tech Life Information and updates.
Links to more information:
An article about Gen z and influencers: https://trepo.tuni.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/140650/Parasocial_relationships_postprint.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
A ted talk: Under the influence by Vishakha Holsambre:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tXsCIMn-Ac
Ted Talk by Rachel David: How influencers have transformed modern marketing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbbEXnRG9d8
Photo from the lecture slideshow within Comm 2F00, week 17 “Micro Celebrities” By Michelle Chen
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