BLOG ASSIGNMENT #3 HAS BEEN REMOVED

Don't Worry

It will be reborn as the Mid Term Essay Exam

In the meantime

Just look at this cat in space playing a synthesizer

Have a nice weekend :)

Instagram: Today’s Youth PPP (personal portal to popularity)

In the Prom Queen of Instagram (PQOI) article, the term “Technological Determinism” is extremely evident- Lilli Hymowitz only of 16 years old currently holds approximately 20,000 Instagram followers but only has about 10 posts. Lilli explains that she deletes posts as time goes on that she feels no longer “fit her current persona.” If someone is even the slightest bit interesting I would assume there’s more than 10 images that could be used to describe you and/or your lifestyle, but I guess that’s just what the cool kids are doing now. Lilli’s limited images on her profile can be thought of as a method she uses to keep the users “waiting and wanting more”- and also an example of her using this digital media platform to help define who she is as a person.

In Lilli’s interview her and her friends agree that she actually doesn’t have very many "real life" friends- although she is known within her age group all over NYC. Baym discusses the use of new digital media by stating “The more you use them, the more they use you, and the more you are influenced by them” (29) which couldn’t apply more than ever in Lilli’s case. The more she uses Instagram, the more it uses her, and the more it’s being used in general Lilli is receiving an arguably non-genuine sense of social status and has made it to the top of the teen social hierarchy. So there you have it folks- Instagram is now teen’s own PPP (Personal Portal to Popularity) But are you sure this is the kind of popularity you really internally desire?

I also encourage everyone to check out this other article relating to how external companies are interacting with Instagram to change society’s views of what is important. Buying Followers- is it ethical? is it necessary? You decide!
http://www.racked.com/2014/9/11/7577585/buy-instagram-followers-bloggers

Cheers!