I think that there are two audience modes for reality TV. The first is “inspiration” mode. Watching or following because you want to BE that person someday, whether it is Cribs or Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, or the Kardashians. The second is “judgement” mode, where you enjoy feeling morally superior to the person you’re following or watching, whether it be the Real Housewives or The Batchelor. In Social media though, we only follow those that inspire us. There is no “hate watching” on social media. Perhaps that is what inspires the pressure for positivity that Casey Neistat* has talked about. It is certainly what he tried to find an antidote to with Beme.

* Lightspeed invested in Casey’s startup Beme