Instagram is a photo and video sharing app owned by Facebook. Throughout its rise in popularity, there have been many developments surrounding the social media world itself and how users can find profit in internet fame. One of the most sought after, and typically shamed, digital careers is referred to as a ‘social media influencer’. Holding the job title of an ‘influencer’ has become a relatively new career path that arose only a few years ago due to the rising popularity in socials such as Youtube and Instagram. As social creators grew with a sudden influx of followers and recognition…

For the past few years, Youtube has undergone many controversial updates that have managed to upset both the creators and the viewers. Along with the development of modern social media, Youtube has become one of the top platforms that the public turns to in hopes to seek mindless entertainment. Although Youtube may not be considered social media by definition due to its beginnings as a basic video-sharing website, the culture and connection between users have developed into a modern online social environment. When comparing today’s intricate Youtube environment with its simple introduction, its evolution as a social website and business…

Two of the biggest names in content creation within the Youtube universe, Shane Dawson and Jeffree Star, recently joined forces to collaborate on a project that took the internet by storm. The two initially worked together on a video series for Shane’s channel, which specializes in documentary styled content, where Shane brought his viewers into Jeffree’s life and makeup line. The documentary became one of Shane’s most viewed videos with the promise of a future collaboration. Like most Youtuber’s, Shane and Jeffree have undergone their fair share of scandals, mostly relating to racist videos and tweets from their past, and…

Among the media news coverage inflicted upon viewers every day, which usually involves headlines pertaining to various global disasters or conflicting world leaders, one subject has seemed to recently rise above the rest: vaping. If you are completely out of the loop you may be wondering, how could something seemingly so minuscule suddenly become a national concern? Within the past two months, an influx of reports has been released stating numerous hospitalizations of minors all tied to vaping, or more specifically Juuling. Along with these hospitalizations, there have been six documented deaths due to severe lung damage caused by vaping…

It seems that among the neverending social issues that cloud headlines and various timelines, the subject of Juuling has caught everyone’s attention. For those who are completely out of the loop and are wondering what a “Juul” is, Juul started off as a more discrete and portable electronic cigarette (or vape) product to help people quit smoking cigarettes. It became popular due to its flash — drive like quality and convenience in everyday life. The vaping industry has been notorious for helping addicts wean off of their unhealthy habit, and, eventually, quit smoking altogether. Although vaping is nothing new, it…

When younger users started abandoning their Facebook profiles, they were on the hunt for a new social that continued to peak their interest and fit all of their aesthetically pleasing needs. This time period was considered the rise of Instagram. I, like many others, immediately became infatuated with Instagram, because it was a creative outlet made completely out of pictures. Before the introduction of VSCO and high quality phone cameras, Instagram was just a fun way to post a picture of your dog, but now it is taken way too seriously. Social media influencers have changed the way users interact…

Since the dawn of social media times, everyone has been granted a special power: the ability to like a post. Receiving “likes”, or, if you are a visual person, the thumbs up and/ or heart button, brings a sense of joy and acceptance. There truly is nothing more satisfying than getting the recognition from your followers that your selfie is, in fact, not ugly or the long paragraph about your annoying coworker that you spent the last 30 minutes perfecting into pure comedic gold is actually, really funny. This may be a stretch, but I would argue that obtaining likes…