"When you accept everything you're told without question, you open the door to being manipulated."
I know I haven't been posting much on here and normally I wouldn't write about online drama, but I think this one really needs to be talked about. I'd like to take this time to discuss just how important it is for social media personalities and even traditional celebrities to be the right kind of people young teenagers should look up to.
We're living in a digital age. Kids as young as ten years old can have complete access to social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, etc. These young impressionable minds will believe everything they see online if they aren't taught right about certain issues. That means that whatever opinions or judgments their favorite celebrity has, whether that judgment might be right or wrong, they will have the tendency to agree with them. Why? Because they're young, they wouldn't know any better, and they completely look up to these people.
I cannot stress enough how crucial it is for these celebrities to guide their audience/fans to the right path. And although there are many good and influential people online, some are still seemingly brainwashing and poisoning the minds of the youth; especially teenage girls.
Take Carter Reynolds as an example.
Last month, this 19 year old Vine star (who has 2.3 million followers on Twitter) received backlash for a leaked video of him forcing his then 16 year old girlfriend Maggie Lindemann to give him a blowjob. This is in fact a case of sexual harassment. Pressuring someone, who is clearly a minor, to give you sexual pleasure even after she refuses is in fact sexual harassment.
Carter acknowledged the issue but instead of directly apologizing for his actions, he goes on and tries to defend himself by making excuses such as saying that "couples do stuff like that all the time...":
We're living in a digital age. Kids as young as ten years old can have complete access to social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, etc. These young impressionable minds will believe everything they see online if they aren't taught right about certain issues. That means that whatever opinions or judgments their favorite celebrity has, whether that judgment might be right or wrong, they will have the tendency to agree with them. Why? Because they're young, they wouldn't know any better, and they completely look up to these people.
I cannot stress enough how crucial it is for these celebrities to guide their audience/fans to the right path. And although there are many good and influential people online, some are still seemingly brainwashing and poisoning the minds of the youth; especially teenage girls.
Take Carter Reynolds as an example.
Last month, this 19 year old Vine star (who has 2.3 million followers on Twitter) received backlash for a leaked video of him forcing his then 16 year old girlfriend Maggie Lindemann to give him a blowjob. This is in fact a case of sexual harassment. Pressuring someone, who is clearly a minor, to give you sexual pleasure even after she refuses is in fact sexual harassment.
Carter acknowledged the issue but instead of directly apologizing for his actions, he goes on and tries to defend himself by making excuses such as saying that "couples do stuff like that all the time...":
read the whole story here
And just recently, he addressed the issue on YouNow and Twitter once again. Carter held a live broadcast trash-talking Maggie by exposing her previous sexual activities with other guys and ended the video crying. He also said that Maggie called the police and reported him. But he then tweeted how he still cares for her and how everything is good between them. Right now, Maggie is confined in a hospital for attempted suicide. And once she admits that Carter is the reason why she's there, he begins attacking her again.
And just recently, he addressed the issue on YouNow and Twitter once again. Carter held a live broadcast trash-talking Maggie by exposing her previous sexual activities with other guys and ended the video crying. He also said that Maggie called the police and reported him. But he then tweeted how he still cares for her and how everything is good between them. Right now, Maggie is confined in a hospital for attempted suicide. And once she admits that Carter is the reason why she's there, he begins attacking her again.
Carter deleted his YouNow video but here is a recording of @lexi4prez, a well-known feminist on Twitter, explaining what happened.
MUST READ: Here is also a link to her Tumblr post about it.
What completely disappoints me is the amount of fans who are still defending him. This just goes to show how greatly impressionable young fans are and it's really sad to see them standing up for someone who is constantly making excuses for his actions, tricking people that he's not the one to blame for all of this. Some people are even attacking Maggie for all the hate he's getting. You do realize that he is hating on his ex-girlfriend for saying that he's the reason why she, whom he sexually harassed and bullied, is in the hospital? How could anyone take his side?
What completely disappoints me is the amount of fans who are still defending him. This just goes to show how greatly impressionable young fans are and it's really sad to see them standing up for someone who is constantly making excuses for his actions, tricking people that he's not the one to blame for all of this. Some people are even attacking Maggie for all the hate he's getting. You do realize that he is hating on his ex-girlfriend for saying that he's the reason why she, whom he sexually harassed and bullied, is in the hospital? How could anyone take his side?
This is what's wrong with some of these social media celebrities. Instead of using their fame and time to actually do something to make the world a better place and to educate their fans, they brainwash them to think that all of their opinions are right. And I'm not just talking about Carter Reynolds or any other international public figure, even in the Philippines, there have been cases of young teenagers defending famous local people who are clearly in the wrong on certain issues.
People need to understand that just because someone is famous or "cute" or "funny" or whatever, doesn't mean we can dismiss their actions. Celebrities are just like any one of us and we shouldn't give them special treatment when they clearly don't deserve it.
The main problem is that these celebrities fail to teach their young fans how to think. Instead, they tell them what to think. These people will feed you with false information about themselves just so they can save their reputation. Please don't be blinded by their bullshit. Don't believe everything the media says.
I suggest you stop supporting someone the moment you realize that they're problematic, because even if their songs are catchy or they're way beyond attractive, those things will never compensate for their shitty personality. I know you guys know better than to stan people who make this world an even worse place to live in.
***Also, if you're in a relationship with someone like Carter Reynolds, please please break up with that person. If you feel uncomfortable even in the slightest bit when your partner tries to get intimate with you, there's obviously something wrong. Don't put up with that person because you deserve someone better.
People need to understand that just because someone is famous or "cute" or "funny" or whatever, doesn't mean we can dismiss their actions. Celebrities are just like any one of us and we shouldn't give them special treatment when they clearly don't deserve it.
The main problem is that these celebrities fail to teach their young fans how to think. Instead, they tell them what to think. These people will feed you with false information about themselves just so they can save their reputation. Please don't be blinded by their bullshit. Don't believe everything the media says.
I suggest you stop supporting someone the moment you realize that they're problematic, because even if their songs are catchy or they're way beyond attractive, those things will never compensate for their shitty personality. I know you guys know better than to stan people who make this world an even worse place to live in.
***Also, if you're in a relationship with someone like Carter Reynolds, please please break up with that person. If you feel uncomfortable even in the slightest bit when your partner tries to get intimate with you, there's obviously something wrong. Don't put up with that person because you deserve someone better.
THINK FOR YOURSELF
- Reign