Camgirls: Celebrity & Community in the Age of Social Networks
Abstract
This book is a critical and ethnographic study of camgirls: women who broadcast themselves over the web for the general public while trying to cultivate a measure of celebrity in the process. The books over-arching question is, What does it mean for feminists to speak about the personal as political in a networked society that encourages women to represent through confession, celebrity, and sexual display, but punishes too much visibility with conservative censure and backlash? The narrative follows that of the camgirl phenomenon, beginning with the earliest experiments in personal homecamming and ending with the newest forms of identity and community being articulated through social networking sites like Live Journal, YouTube, MySpace, and Facebook. It is grounded in interviews, performance analysis of events transpiring between camgirls and their viewers, and the authors own experiences as an ersatz camgirl while conducting the research. Published (author's copy) Peer Reviewed
... Microcelebrity (MC) has become one of the most prominent social and cultural phenomena in digitally mediated online spaces and has attracted increasing scholarly attention across various disciplines, including communication (Arriagada and Bishop, 2021) and cultural studies (Abidin, 2019). Since the term MC was first introduced by Senft (2008) in her book titled 'Camgirls: Celebrity and community in the age of social network', this phenomenon of ordinary people pursuing fame and money through online performance has been widely documented in the scholarly literature. At the same time, with the growth of empirical work in this area, a number of similar terms have emerged and been used to describe this phenomenon, such as 'internet celebrity', 'influencer', 'wanghong', and 'content creator'. ...
... Traditional celebrities (or 'stars' in older parlance) gain fame through professional achievements, talents or positions in the traditional entertainment industries or what Marshall (2010) terms 'representational' media. MC, however, are a development of the 'demotic turn' (Turner, 2004(Turner, , 2006 of 'presentational' media and encompass ordinary people who seek to develop personal brands through self-disclosure and continuous engagement with a niche audience online (Senft, 2008). In the current digital social mediascape, some of the lines between traditional and microcelebrities have become blurred given that traditional celebrities are now utilizing social media to further expand their fan group or reach new audiences and markets through activities more typical of microcelebrities (e.g. ...
... As shown in Table 1, increasing scholarly interest in MC studies can be observed, especially after 2019. The earliest study on MC from within research articles in the data was were found in 2010; though we note again the earlier existence and use of the term in book publications (notably, Senft, 2008). ...
Over the past decade, a robust body of scholarship on microcelebrity has emerged,
occasioning several review studies of this growing field of research. Extant reviews
on microcelebrity have mostly focused on microcelebrities’ strategic communication
or audiences’ attitudes, but no review has specifically focused on microcelebrities’
identity. Echoing the call for more attention to this particular aspect in recent
reviews, this article examines 97 empirical studies published from 2010 to 2022
that focused on microcelebrities’ identity construction on social media. Our analysis
identified various research trends and synthesized microcelebrities’ identity tactics
into 10 categories. We situate the findings within current discussions of platformized
cultural production and microcelebrity’s role in it by drawing on and extending
Duffy et al.’s ‘nested precarities’ framework to account for microcelebrities’ identity
work on social media. The review’s key contribution is the conceptualization
of microcelebrities’ identity-related tactics and its embedding in the formidable
precarities of platform ecosystems.
... The inclusion of the everydayness of ordinary people has enriched the term of internet celebrity by engaging with microcelebrity. Microcelebrity was coined by Senft (2008), who describes 'ordinary people -the audiences of traditional celebrities -using social media to build fame' (p. 52). ...
... 52). Early research on microcelebrities explored the dynamics of personal branding and self-commodification that focused on individual influence and its relations with the public (Senft 2008, Marwick and Boyd 2011a, 2011b. Later, it turned to the study of the process of 'cyber-self-presentation' (Marshall 2010, Turner 2010. ...
... Over this process, the internet greatly facilitates microcelebrities for self-branding and attention garnering -specifically, social media technologies allow individuals to engage enormous audiences for their status updates, digital pictures, or creative work (Marwick 2017). Microcelebrities utilise social media technologies to 'amp up' their popularity and treat visibility as a status to build and maintain their persona online (Senft 2008, Marwick 2015, Johnston 2020)-they may also respond to individual inquiries or share intimate moments to deepen the bond between themselves and their followers (Marwick 2017). On the one hand, microcelebrities take great pains in their self-branding for online fame, which they cannot attain in the offline world (Khamis et al. 2017, Usher 2020); on the other, they become mindful of authenticity, intimacy, and access in maintaining professional relations with fans (Johnston 2020) as it may easily run counter to a carefully constructed persona. ...
... Livestreaming research has been enriched by feminist, queer, and critical race perspectives, illuminating the inherent inequalities of both work and play. These discussions often trace livestreaming's roots back to the intimate practices of erotic webcam models in the 1990s and early 2000s, as exemplified in Senft's (2008) influential ethnography of 'home-camming' practices. Senft's work underscores how all forms of live video sharing from the home implicate access to the intimate economies of household life. ...
... These strategies are often intertwining with household utility management. Streamers' camera positioning around the bathroom echoes Senft's (2008) exploration of webcam users' historical control over their broadcast's visual range. This control, both technical and social, underscores livestreaming as a practice centred on managing intimacy through visual perspectives. ...
... The term "language teaching microcelebrity" is rooted in the broader concept of micro-celebrity or influencer. Micro-celebrities are defined as "ordinary internet users who amass a significant following on blogs and social media through the narrative of their personal lives and lifestyles, engaging with audience in both digital and physical spaces" (Senft, 2008). Leveraging the capabilities of social media, these adept individuals can craft and project their identities online, attracting large audience and achieving fame or financial rewards in return (Khamis et al., 2017;Marwick, 2013;Senft, 2013). ...
In the digital age, the global online language education market is experiencing rapid growth. Language teaching micro-celebrities are individuals who create and share language content on social media, attracting large audiences and monetizing their popularity. As these figures gain traction, it is crucial to explore how they construct their identities. The present study examines the identity formation of three language teaching micro-celebrities on Bilibili, a popular Chinese video-sharing platform known for its focus on animation, comics, and games (ACG) content. We utilized Tracy’s (2002) framework on identity. Employing qualitative methods, we analyzed 30 videos from these micro-celebrities to investigate their identities and the multimodal resources they use for identity construction. Findings reveal that these micro-celebrities strategically cultivate multifaceted and hybrid identities, portraying themselves as successful yet relatable language teachers, intimate peers, and entrepreneurial individuals. By leveraging various multimodal resources, they seamlessly blend their native language, English, and visual elements to enhance understanding and establish unique personas. This research underscores the fluid and adaptable use of multimodal resources by language teaching micro-celebrities, highlighting their dual pedagogical and promotional roles. It contributes to a deeper understanding of the intricate relationship between online language teaching and micro-celebrity culture in Chinese social media.
... By centring the experiences of marginalized communities, cyberfeminism promotes solidarity across intersecting axes of oppression, including race, gender, sexuality, and class (hooks, 2000). The anonymous sender used the provided online platform to raise awareness about social injustices, challenge dominant narratives, and advocate for policy reforms (Senft, 2008). ...
This study explores the role of the internet and cyberspace, particularly through the use of emails, as a tool for feminist empowerment within Saudi Arabian society, as depicted in Rajaa Alsanea's novel Girls of Riyadh. The research aims to examine how female characters use virtual spaces to challenge and undermine patriarchal norms and expectations. By utilizing the internet's anonymity and connectivity, these women carve out a platform for self-expression, solidarity, and resistance against the oppressive structures of their society. The study finds that cyberfeminism offers a powerful means for women in conservative environments to voice their thoughts and advocate for change. Furthermore, the internet serves as a catalyst for new forms of feminist discourse and activism. The study concludes that cyberspace not only facilitates the creation of a collective feminist identity but also empowers women to redefine their roles and resist traditional societal constraints.
... Social media influencers constitute a relatively new group in the social network context (Hudders et al., 2020). These influencers take on a middle position between ordinary users and celebrities and are also called "micro-celebrities" (Senft, 2008). Because of this in-between position, influencers have a broad outreach being close to their audience ("one of them") and as a political player they can have a powerful influence on this audience (Harff, 2022;Martin & Sharma, 2022). ...
Misogynistic attitudes have surged in the past few years and the “manosphere” – an online milieu promoting toxic and rigid masculinity norms – is often seen as an arena for spreading such ideas. Within the manosphere, manfluencers (i.e., male influencers who espouse misogynistic content and beliefs) are known for trying to persuade men to view women and feminism as a threat to their masculinity and status as men. In this article, we examine how perceived threats to masculine identity as presented by manfluencers affect the formation of young men’s attitudes towards women. In an original survey (N = 2857) with Swedish men, we found that young men who follow more manfluencers are more likely to dehumanize women. In two experiments (N = 597, 630), we presented potentially threatening content from a fictive manfluencer to a group of participants and found that young men exposed to such content were more mistrustful of women and misogynistic, especially if they felt like they had been rejected by women in the past. The results highlight the importance of how social media influencers may increase misogyny among young men. This research has important implications for policymakers and practitioners, who should be made aware of the role manfluencers have in the formation of attitudes toward gender equality.
... Geleneksel reklamcılık uygulamalarının aksine, fenomenler "daha gerçek" görünür ve bu nedenle hedef kitleleriyle daha ilişkilendirilebilir pozisyondadır (Senft, 2008). Profesyonel metin yazarları tarafından hazırlanan reklam metinleri ve stüdyolarda çekilmiş reklam filmlerine karşın fenomenlerin günlük yaşamlarından samimi ve kişisel kesitler seçip paylaşması takipçiler tarafından daha özgün kabul edilmektedir (Whitmer, 2019). ...
... Diverse tradizioni accademiche, che vanno dalla sociologia digitale (Lupton, 2015), all'audience research (Livingstone, 1993;, ai communication studies (Markham, 1998;Senft, 2008) e agli studi di human-machine interaction (Turkle, 1984;, si sono concentrate su come gli individui riflettono sui contenuti mediali e sul funzionamento dei media digitali; approcci e contributi differenti hanno evidenziato nel tempo che gli utenti sono in grado di sviluppare una comprensione sfaccettata e complessa delle loro attività online, delle caratteristiche socio-tecniche delle tecnologie e delle implicazioni dei loro comportamenti in diversi ambiti quali la privacy, la sicurezza, le relazioni e la percezione della propria identità. ...
This book examines the everyday relationships with algorithmic media at the sociological level, taking into consideration both structural and social actor-related dimensions. Specifically, drawing on a critical review of multiple theoretical contributions and the analysis of two empirical cases involving university students and healthcare professionals, it discusses how algorithmic media exert hegemonic power in contemporary society. Within this power, however, it is highlighted a dialectical, symbiotic, and fluid relationship between structure and agency, in which the structures activated and reproduced by algorithmic media can become spaces of action and reflection for users. In the conclusions, it is argued that sociology itself can offer tools to facilitate a critical understanding of technologies and the development of activities that can counter the hegemonic power of platforms.
... Pada kajian cyberculture, selebriti pada media sosial dikenal dengan istilah microcelebrity atau mikroselebriti. Konsep mengenai microcelebrity pertama kali dikenalkan oleh Senft (2008) yang mengungkapkan definisi microcelebrity sebagai sistem kerja baru yang berasal pada sistem kerja online yang melibatkan individu yang berusaha untuk dapat meningkatkan popularitas mereka melalui web menggunakan teknologi seperti video, blog, dan situs jejaring sosial. Definisi lain dari microcelebrity ialah individu yang menerapkan sistem kerja yang mengikutsertakan pembentukan citra, penyebaran informasi yang bersifat personal ke khalayak luas, pembuatan ilusi kedekatan dengan khalayak, pengakuan keberadaan khalayak yang dimaksudkan untuk menjaga loyalitas khalayak tersebut (Marwick & Boyd, 2011). ...
Identity is a reflection of the reality of oneself. This reflection can be represented in the real world or the cyber world. But in cyberculture, the debate about real and virtual reality is a separate discourse. So that the identity represented in the cyber world is often referred to as a virtual identity. With the cyber world, identity is easy to transform, depending on the interests of the owner of the identity. This article will try to discuss the virtual identity transformation carried out by microcelebrity. The transformation is marked by the momentum of the divorce from the microcelebrity. Using qualitative content analysis, this article analyzes the uploads of two microcelebrity, namely Rachel Venya and Vicky Alaydrus on her Instagram. The findings of this article show that both Rachel Venya and Vicky Alaydrus experienced a virtual identity transformation after the divorce. But it was found that in this transformation, Vicky Alaydrus placed himself more as part of the microcelebrity than Rachel Venya. In the first few posts, Rachel Venya put herself as an individual without any soft selling that followed the reveal of her new virtual identity as a microcelebrity.
... Camming is a form of online sex work, in which through computer-mediated interactions cam models sell their body image and interaction online (Jones, 2016;Senft, 2008). It is a platform-dependent (Ettlinger, 2017;Stegeman, 2024;Swords et al., 2023) form of intimate labor (Cunningham et al., 2018;Ditmore et al., 2013;Patella-Rey, 2021), which interestingly favors its operation in a framework that dynamically mirrors popular social media platforms. ...
This paper investigates the practice of camming, focusing on its intertwining with social media conventions, particularly on the Brazilian platform Camera Prive. Departing from existing research that primarily examines the economic and social implications of online sex work, this study critically examines the application of social media-like identity exploration within camming, addressing a research gap in mediated human interactions and identity experiences. Two central questions guide this investigation: first, scrutinizing the alignment between social media definitions of identity and the practices of cam models on Camera Prive, and second, exploring the strategic utilization of online identities by cam models and their contribution to monetization strategies. The study contributes to understanding camming as a distinct form of labor within the gig economy, emphasizing self-entrepreneurship and the multifaceted nature of online sex work. It underscores the significance of platform affordances in shaping narratives and economic gains for sex workers. Future research directions should focus on platform governance, technological advancements, and regulatory frameworks to inform discussions on the evolving landscape of online sex work.
... Influencer is a person or figure in social media where that person has many followers, then what they say can influence the behavior of their followers (Hariyanti and Wirapraja,2018). Influencers can be categorized as microcelebrity, which means a new style of online behavior where a person tries to increase their popularity on the internet using various kinds of technology such as videos, blogs, or social networking sites (Senft, 2008). Meanwhile, according to Brown & Fiorella (2013: 195) Influencer is "Typically a non-customer or business incentivized to recommend / create content about a business brand or product". ...
This study aims to determine the role of influencers in TikTok live streaming, promotion and trust in purchase urchase intention. The research method used in this research is descriptive quantitative. The sample in this study were 100 people. The sampling technique used is nonprobability sampling with saturated sampling. The approach used in this study was accidental sampling. The types of data used in this study are primary data and secondary data, where secondary data is used to strengthen the background of the problem. The measurement scale used is a questionnaire with a Likert scale of 1-5. The tests carried out in this study are validity and reliability tests, hypothesis testing, inner model, outer model and r square. The tool used to test the hypothesis is the Structural Equation Model (SEM) with the SPSS. The results of this study are that promotion and trust have a positive and significant effect on TikTok Live influencers in Yogyakarta, while promotion and trust have a positive effect on TikTok consumer buying interest, while the Influencer variable mediates the relationship between promotion and consumer buying interest TikTok Live in Yogyakarta.
... Just likepublishing communities on YouTube (BookTube) and Instagram (BookStagram), BookTok allows readers, mainly teenagers, to meet and connect with their peers to create spaces based on a common interest: reading. Pedagogies and peer-to-peer learning are often central features of the relationships formed between "microcelebrities" (Senft, 2008) and their fans. TikTok users share their passion for books, bringing to life the titles they love and reshaping the publishing industry. ...
The emergence of the new BookTok reading community has led to the appearance of the figure of the book influencer who disseminates, through their own channels and content, their literary preferences to young users interested in reading. This study analyses the communicative strategy of book influencers on TikTok. Content analysis is used to study the profiles of the main 30 Spanish book influencers and their 1,471 videos posted between 24th February and 24th April 2022 −coinciding with the International Book Day campaign− and in-depth interviews with 7 booktokers to find out their point of view in relation to their contributions to the promotion of reading and the increase in book consumption in Spain. The study concluded that book influencers collaborate with publishers due to the wide reach of their content. Furthermore, they believe that the communicative and promotional actions booktokers carry out contribute to the increase in sales and the promotion of reading.
... Como las comunidades editoriales de YouTube (BookTube) e Instagram (BookStagram), BookTok permite que personas lectoras, principalmente adolescentes, se reúnan y conecten con sus iguales para crear espacios basados en un interés común: la lectura. Las pedagogías y el aprendizaje entre iguales suelen ser características centrales de las relaciones que se forman entre las "microcelebridades" (Senft, 2008) y sus fans. Los usuarios de TikTok comparten su pasión por los libros, dando vida a los títulos que les gustan y remodelando el sector editorial. ...
El surgimiento de la nueva comunidad lectora BookTok ha permitido la aparición de la figura del influencer literario que difunde, a través de canales y contenidos propios, sus preferencias literarias a jóvenes usuarios interesados en la lectura. Este estudio analiza la estrategia comunicativa de los influencers literarios en TikTok. Se utiliza el análisis de contenido para estudiar los perfiles de los principales 30 influencers literarios españoles y los 1471 vídeos publicados entre el 24 de febrero y el 24 de abril del 2022 −coincidiendo con la campaña del Día Internacional del Libro− y las entrevistas en profundidad a 7 booktokers para conocer su punto de vista con relación a sus contribuciones para el fomento de la lectura e incremento del consumo de libros en España. A partir del estudio se concluye que los influencers literarios colaboran con las editoriales debido al gran alcance que tienen sus contenidos. Además, intuyen que las acciones comunicativas y promocionales de libros que realizan los booktokers contribuyen al incremento en la venta y fomento de la lectura.
... Similarly, SMIs' experiences and perspectives on health issues can be just as persuasive as celebrities'. Senft (2009), using his theory of micro-celebrity, explained that it is the practice of cultivating a public persona and an audience for oneself online based on the observations of internet users who broadcast their lives via webcams that gained cult followings. This demonstrates that SMIs have the potential to reach a massive global audience with a high number of followers (Leader et al., 2020). ...
Social media like Twitter in essence is a contested space in which individuals
endowed with a certain amount of social capital such as social media influencers
(SMIs) can establish the dominance of specific messages. As society increasingly
relies on online communities for information, they are taking an active role in making
decisions concerning their health. Thus, this study intends to identify the topics of
discussion shared by SMI about the COVID-19 vaccine on Twitter. This study also
aims to determine whether the sharing by these SMIs promotes the creation of users'
knowledge and to what extent it affects their offline behaviour. A qualitative approach
was employed by using two research methods: content analysis and in-depth
interviews. Content analysis was conducted via Twitter API, resulting in 12 SMI
identified to discuss in this study. As for the in-depth interview, a total of 10
participants were selected to provide insight into the impact of SMIs on their
knowledge and decision-making. This study concludes that SMIs are generally
favourable and actively encourage Twitter users to be vaccinated. Their experiences
shared through the tweets are also well-received by participants as they favour the
authenticity and interactivity of SMI tweets. However, the extent to which SMIs
influence participants' decisions differs by individual. The complexities of the social
influence process enable variances in attitudinal and behavioural responses including the way participants obtain and execute the COVID-19 vaccine information from SMI.
... They frequently address their followers directly in their posts, reply to their comments, and answer their questions which creates a sense of closeness with their audience (Chung et al., 2023;Erz & Christensen, 2018). Consequently, the type of relationship that influencers establish with their audience is more authentic (Scott, 2015, p. 295), and real (Senft, 2008). This phenomenon cultivates a dynamic similar to a friendship between SMIs and their followers (Djafarova & Rushworth, 2017;Mudambi & Schuff, 2010;Schouten et al., 2019). ...
In this chapter, the authors explore the distinctions between social media influencers and traditional celebrities in fashion and beauty. Next, they discuss the significance of perceived similarity, identification between social media influencers and their audience, and authenticity for fashion and beauty influencers' success. Finally, they examine the evolving landscape, current trends, and the anticipated trajectory of the fashion and cosmetic industries. Generally, the fashion and cosmetic industries share many characteristics and accept influence from one another. Therefore, it would be beneficial to examine these two industries together. In February 2000, Jennifer Lopez gained significant attention at the 42nd Grammy Awards ceremony when she wore a striking green Versace dress, an iconic moment that remains vivid in a generation's collective memory. The dress captured immediate global attention, and people around the world eagerly searched online to catch a glimpse of it, to the point that it turned into one of the most searched queries of its time. This unprecedented demand for images led to the development of Google Images. Before this moment, Google Search results were primarily text and web links. However, the overwhelming desire to visually experience the now-famous dress marked a pivotal moment in internet history. Much has transformed since the year 2000, yet the enduring power of a single image-a dress-continues to captivate our attention even in the present day.
... Whether it is a function of a "culture of loneliness" caused by demographic imbalances or China's ultra-competitive socio-economy, engagement with internet celebrities sometimes resembles quasi-familial "para-kin" relationships rather than commonplace para-social relations [51]. Wanghong, especially those lower down the hierarchy, must invest "emotional labour" in cultivating relationships [52] and maintain ties through frequent engagements via comment and chat functions [3], p.808]. Transnational couples are especially conscientious in responding to fan comments and engaging with fans. ...
The burgeoning internet celebrity industry in China has encouraged the emergence of foreign wanghong (洋网红) as active content producers on the Chinese internet. Achieving online fame and constructing a resonant personal brand while staying within Chinese state’s permissible boundaries is a challenge for all internet influencers in China. Foreign wanghong, for their part, also have to deal with Chinese publics’ ambivalence and fluctuating perspectives on engaging foreign culture, expectations around “being foreign” and cultural nationalism fed by the currents of geopolitics. This study focuses on the performance and personas of foreign wanghong and investigates how these creators navigate the complexities of the Chinese internet to achieve substantial followings. Going beyond treating foreign participants in Chinese digital media spaces as co-opted instruments of propaganda, we take seriously foreign creators’ articulations, constructions and self-presentations of foreignness and acculturation in their efforts to earn social, cultural and economic capital in the competitive Chinese internet celebrity sphere. A mixed-method content analytical study of several hundred Douyin videos generated by 33 foreign wanghong reveals the adoption of calculated self-presentation and cross-cultural communication skills alongside a constant negotiation of an individual’s own foreignness and local constructs of the “typical foreigner”.
... According to Theresa Senft and Nancy Baym (2015:1589), a selfie is "…a photographic object that initiates the transmission of human feeling in the form of a relationship (between photographer and photographed, between image and filtering software, between viewer and viewed, between individuals circulating images, between users and social software architectures"… [and] a practice or gesture that can send, and is often intended to send, different messages to different individuals, communities, and audiences." Senft andBaym (2015:1589) uphold that the selfie is a gesture that may be dulled, intensified, or modified to prompt a particular reaction from social disapproval to desire. The posting of selfies on Instagram encourages social exchanges between the user and her followers by use of likes and comments. ...
Declaration I hereby declare that this dissertation is submitted in completion of the degree Magister of Social Science in Sociology (The Narratives Study of Lives) at the University of the Free State is my own work and throughout the dissertation I referenced other people's ideas properly, and I have never submitted this dissertation before for any degree at any other University.
... As the name implies, OnlyFans serves to provide individuals with a platform to create fandoms around their content. We argue that OnlyFans models are microcelebrities according to the definitions of Senft (2008) and Marwick and Boyd (2011), as OnlyFans models use social media to create an audience for themselves, they view their audience as a fanbase, and impression management is utilized in order to make one's presented self favourable to others. As previously mentioned, many influencers now produce erotic content for audiences through OnlyFans (Lykousas et al., 2020). ...
OnlyFans is a social media platform that allows individuals to sell subscription access to content and interact with subscribers. While open to all forms of creators, OnlyFans has become synonymous with pornographic and erotic content, particularly during its growth over the Covid-19 pandemic. Models on OnlyFans are paid by fans to provide an experience which is tailored to the fantasy of the fan. This study employed a qualitative reflexive thematic analysis to examine the complexities of creator-fan interactions, the challenges faced by models, and their strategies in managing those interactions. Seven Ireland-based OnlyFans models (87.5% cis-women), participated in semi-structured interviews via social media. Findings identified four key challenge domains: boundaries, exposure, impression management, and interaction. Models strategised in a number of ways, such as clarifying boundaries, protecting identities, managing impressions, and confining fan interactions to the platform itself. However, the ambiguous nature of the roles in this fan-model dynamic, often culminated in blurred lines between fantasy and reality, leading to boundary violations and problematic fan-model relationships. This dynamic has striking parallels with the challenges experienced between influencers and celebrities with their fans, emphasizing the universal nature of this digital interaction phenomenon. The findings bear significant implications for a broad range of individuals, including potential and active OnlyFans models, celebrities and influencers navigating fandoms, researchers exploring online interactions, and mental health professionals assisting clients in these contexts. This study acknowledges its limitation in exploring only the models’ perspective, urging future research to incorporate fan perspectives of this dynamic.
... Examining the intersection of social media, politics, and gender, Senft's (2008) work sheds light on digital communication's role in fostering political communities and activism. Senft highlights the participatory nature of online spaces, illustrating how individuals, including women, leverage social media for political expression and mobilization. ...
This study delves into the evolving influence of social media on women's political
participation in Nasarawa State, Nigeria, amidst a global backdrop of political figures
effectively utilizing these platforms. Focusing on the observed capital imbalance in content
creation during political processes, the research examines the specific impact of social media
on women's exposure to political information, their active involvement in politics, and the
broader shaping of their political engagement. With women's underrepresentation in
Nigerian elections highlighting the urgency, the study employs a survey method,
administering 400 questionnaires in person to women in Nasarawa State, with 377 retrieved.
Utilizing a multi-stage sampling technique, the research centres on areas with literate,
prolific social media users and politically active women. Statistical analysis reveals nuanced
insights, indicating significant dissatisfaction (73.5%) with democracy in Nigeria. Factors
influencing social media participation include information access, the desire for political
change, and social network influence. The perceived impact of social media on women's
political participation suggests the potential for positive change in civic engagement. The
study recommends that policymakers should prioritize comprehensive democratic reforms
addressing citizens' concerns, while implementing targeted programs to enhance women's
political participation on social media and encouraging political leaders to actively utilize
social platforms for inclusive communication and accurate information dissemination.
... Sosyal medya, ünlü olma statüsünü sadece seçkinler için değil, sıradan insanlar için de kullanılabilir hale getirmiştir (Page, 2012). Burada bahsedilen, Warholl'un "herkesin bir gün 15 dakikalığına ünlü olacağı" sözüne gönderme yaparak; sıradan insanların, internet teknolojisini kullanarak geleneksel ünlü tanımından farklı bir şöhrete ulaşmasıdır (Senft, 2008). Sosyal medyanın kullanıcılarını etkilemeyi ve onlar tarafından yüksek düzeyde izlenmeyi başaran bireyler, sosyal medya fenomeni haline gelirler (Özcan, 2020). ...
Bu araştırmanın amacı, ergenlerin sosyal medya fenomenlerinden ne düzeyde etkilendiklerini belirlemek üzere geliştirilen Ergenler için Sosyal Medya Fenomenlerinden Etkilenme Algısı Ölçeğinin geçerlik ve güvenirlik çalışmasını yapmaktır. Araştırmanın çalışma grubu, 2022-2023 eğitim öğretim yılında bir Konya ilindeki ortaöğretim kurumlarında öğrenim gören ve uygun örneklem yöntemiyle seçilen toplam 915 lise öğrencisinden (576 kız ve 339 erkek) oluşmaktadır. Ölçeğin faktör yapısı açımlayıcı ve doğrulayıcı faktör analizi ile incelenmiş ve toplam varyansın %43.76’sını açıklayan tek boyutlu bir yapı elde edilmiştir. Bu yapının model uyumunun iyi düzeyde olduğu bulunmuştur (χ2/sd=1.69, RMSEA=.079, GFI=.93, AGFI=.87, CFI=.98, NFI=.95, NNFI=.97). Ölçüt bağıntılı geçerlik çalışmalarında ise Ergenler için Sosyal Medya Fenomenlerinden Etkilenme Algısı Ölçeği ile Takipçiler Nezdinde Sosyal Medya Fenomenlerinin Kanaat Önderliği Ölçeği arasında pozitif yönde yüksek düzeyde (.773) anlamlı ilişkili olduğu sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Ölçeğin güvenirliğini belirlemek için iç tutarlılık (.885), iki yarı (.776) ve test-tekrar test (.825) güvenirlik analizleri yapılmış ve ölçeğin güvenilir olduğuna karar vermek için kabul edilebilir referans değerlere ulaşılmıştır. Araştırmadan elde edilen bulgular doğrultusunda bu çalışma kapsamında geliştirilmiş olan Ergenler için Sosyal Medya Fenomenlerinden Etkilenme Algısı Ölçeğinin, ergenlerin sosyal medya fenomenlerinden ne düzeyde etkilendiğini belirleme sürecinde kullanılabilecek, geçerliği ve güvenirliği olan bir ölçme aracı olduğu sonucuna ulaşılmıştır.
... Bodies dominate the visual landscape of social media, particularly across emergent image and attention economies that encourage a melding of the self, celebrity, and consumer and offer endless tips and tricks for working on and displaying the gendered body. The rise of influencer and microcelebrity culture, a market of internet trendsetters who leverage their social media accounts as personal "billboards" for their aesthetic labour (Abidin 2014) and populate feeds with full-body sponsored shots (Abidin 2016) has been understood within the context of evolving postfeminist messaging around bodily control and entrepreneurial selfhood (Abidin and Brown 2019;Senft 2008). This shift towards the everyday celebrification of the self can also be witnessed in digital beauty cultures that focus heavily on emulating celebrity faces and perfecting make-up techniques that sculpt and contour one's facial structure (Banet-Weiser 2017). ...
This chapter maps a number of significant shifts and trends in recent scholarship about young people and digital media cultures. We foreground new and emerging research on young people’s image production, with a particular focus on young femininities. The chapter is divided into three parts. In the first part, we offer a brief review of the research about sexualization, femininities, normative beauty standards, and the media. Next, we chart the turn to an interest in self-images as communication, highlighting the ephemeral and affectively charged nature of body imaging, and the shift towards curating and editing the self, and tensions between the dual demands for “authenticity” and “perfection.” The chapter then presents a case study of the Kardashians to highlight debates about gendered and racialized ideals and authenticity.
... Las etnografías estudian cada vez más las prácticas, temas, grupos y modos de comunicación que dependen totalmente de las tecnologías digitales para su existencia (20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27) . Aunque la etnografía virtual consiste en un "desplazamiento experiencial más que físico" (28) , el principio etnográfico clave es desarrollar una comprensión de los fenómenos sociales en cuestión a través de la observación participante (es decir, la inmersión) y la recopilación progresiva de datos (por ejemplo, la investigación sistematizada) sigue siendo consistente con la etnografía tradicional (19) . ...
Luego de que se autorizara en EEUU el uso de la vacuna contra el covid-19 en bebés de seis meses a niños y niñas de cuatro años, algunas personas (padres, madres, pediatras y comunicadores) plantearon la vacunación contra el covid-19 como una cuestión de acceso; sin embargo, muchas otras se mostraron reacias y otras se resistieron a las recomendaciones de los Centers for Disease Control and Prevention de EEUU. En este contexto, este estudio se propuso explorar: 1) reacciones divergentes ante la autorización de uso de la vacuna contra el covid-19 en niños y niñas de seis meses a cuatro años; y 2) lógicas contrapuestas que subyacen a las actitudes provacunación, antivacunación y vacilación ante las vacunas contra el covid-19. Para ello, se realizó una etnografía digital, con monitoreo de 5.700 reacciones a una serie de ocho infografías publicadas en las redes sociales por la John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, y observación participante en un grupo focal en línea a lo largo de un año, desde diciembre de 2021 hasta diciembre de 2022, conformado por 18 madres. Los resultados indican que el personal médico debe considerar diferentes nociones de “riesgo” al interactuar con los pacientes, especialmente aquellos que dudan en vacunarse.
... Popularly called influencers, SMIs accumulate followers by narrating their lives and lifestyles and engaging with their followers in both digital and physical spaces (Abidin, 2015a). They have become microcelebrities (Senft, 2008), with followers ranging from thousands to millions, whose online clout is being exploited for corporate and political needs (Abidin, 2016b). Since their debut, mainstream industries, which used to be reliant on traditional entertainment industry celebrities, increasingly resort to SMIs to reach the solid following under their commands. ...
... The increasing trend of internet usage, particularly on social media platforms such as Instagram, 5 Facebook, 6 Twitter, 7 and others, has made it easier for individuals to gain fame and become celebrities (Marshall, 2010). To describe famous individuals in various fields, different terms have been coined, such as "Internet celebrity," "YouTube 8 stars," "Web stars," and "Internet famous" (Gamson, 2011;Lange, 2007;Marwick, 2013;Senft, 2008;Snickars & Vonderau, 2009;Tanz, 2008). Studies suggest that individuals with narcissistic personality disorder may engage in various behaviors, both in the real world and on social media platforms, to attain fame and seek attention from others (Bushman, 2018;Jabeen et al., 2020). ...
It seems that in most cultures, reaching fame and celebrity is the most desired goal and/or fantasy in most sections of society; and this is fueled most notably by the mass media (Greenwood, 2013). Hence, there has been an influx of psychological research in the field albeit a comprehensive psychological theory is yet to be formulated. In this article, a comprehensive review of the literature is offered by analyzing all psychology articles published in the Scopus database from 1928 To 2022. The VOSviewer software was used for this purpose. In this article, the bibliography of all the psychology articles published in the Scopus database from the beginning to today has been discussed. To review this issue of the software VOSviewer Used. In general, 1987 articles in the field of psychology were retrieved in the Scopus database in which the growing trend of research in recent years is shown. The fact that most of these articles are in the field of neuropsychology reveals the gap between important research and theory-based in theoretical psychology. Even though the growing trend of fame has caused an increase in psychological research in this field, no bibliometric research has been carried out to address the state of research and its process. This survey, relying on a scientific map in this field, will attempt to identify the areas that remain unaddressed.
... As teóricas estadunidenses Adrienne Evans e Sarah Riley defendem que o surgimento do webcamming erótico no interior de uma cultura de "culto à celebridade" (Senft, 2008), engajada no desempenho de uma performance hiperfeminina (Drenten; Gurrieri; Tyler, 2020), reinscreve o desafio crítico feministado combate às feminilidades hegemônicas -em um regime "pós-feminista" que solapa o discurso à objetificação feminina na construção de uma subjetividade sexual orientada para o mercado heterossexual masculino. ...
Resumo O artigo busca refletir sobre como as construções da autoridade e mobilidade etnográficas são moldadas pelas complexidades intrínsecas às condições de existência particulares ao campo em que nos situamos. Ao posicionar-me em campo enquanto um híbrido antropóloga-camgirl, desafio a própria construção celibatária (Kulick; Willson, 1995) de uma certa antropologia que preserva a assimetria entre sexo, dinheiro, pesquisa e subjetividade (Lino e Silva, 2014). Essa posicionalidade, ainda, se propõe a criticar o caráter objetivo e impessoal das estruturas de verificação e gerenciamento de confiança presentes nas empresas-plataforma (Slee, 2019), bem como algumas leituras feministas (Drenten; Gurrieri; Tyler, 2020; Dworkin, 1981; Pateman, 2016; Swain, 2004) que situam as trabalhadoras sexuais como aliadas ou vítimas inconscientes do desejo (hétero) sexual masculino. É a partir desses três princípios críticos que o presente artigo situa as particularidades e possibilidades metodológicas e seus efeitos teóricos baseados na dupla posicionalidade do(a) antropólogo(a).
... Influencers are individuals who take advantage of their cultural and social capital on social media to shape the shopping opinions and decisions of others (WELLMAN et al., 2020). They perform online identities strategically to construct their popularity (SENFT, 2008) and project their celebrity status by treating friends and strangers as fans (MARWICK, 2013). Influencers see themselves as brands for consumption and as self-enterprises (DUFFY, 2017), building a strict relationship between their personal brand and their followers (ABIDIN; OTS, 2016). ...
O objetivo deste ensaio é explorar o uso de mídias digitais por profissionais autônomos como estratégia para gestão de suas marcas online. A partir de revisão de literatura e observação de três casos empíricos, identificamos as habilidades comunicacionais em jogo neste tipo de atuação, contribuindo para uma melhor compreensão da importância da comunicação (e competências de comunicação) em uma sociedade midiatizada.
The live streaming of digital and analogue gaming has emerged as a major new topic in games research. One element involves understanding the labour of streaming: studies to date have focused on examining the ‘on-camera’ labour of streamers, but what has yet to be examined is their ‘off-camera’ labour. This includes developing stream aesthetics, networking with other streamers and viewers, building communities on other platforms and management and maintenance activities. These forms of labour are undertaken by those who broadcast for leisure purposes and those who aspire to a part-time or even full-time job in game streaming. Drawing on extensive interview data with professional and semi-professional live streamers, this paper explores off-stream labour and the demands it makes on game broadcasters. The article sheds new light on the behind-the-scenes labours and lives of aspirational gaming live streamers, who are collectively becoming increasingly influential in global gaming communities.
This research explores the impact of digital media on the perceptions of gender, sexuality, and embodiment among young adult women in Chennai. By employing a mixed-methods approach, the study investigates how digital media platforms influence self-image, societal norms, and cultural practices. Data were collected from a sample of 300 women aged 18–21 through structured digital interviews and observational techniques. The findings reveal that digital media acts as a double-edged sword, simultaneously reinforcing and challenging traditional gender roles. While it promotes diversity and provides educational resources, it also perpetuates stereotypes and unrealistic standards, negatively affecting self-esteem and body image. Online harassment related to gender and sexuality is prevalent, highlighting the need for enhanced online safety measures. The study underscores the empowering potential of digital media for social change, with many participants engaging in digital resistance and activism. However, the credibility of information on gender and sexuality remains a challenge, emphasizing the need for improved digital literacy. This research contributes to the understanding of digital media's complex role in shaping young women's perceptions and highlights the necessity for balanced representation and supportive online environments. The study's implications suggest that media creators, policymakers, and educators must collaborate to foster inclusive and positive digital experiences
Social media platforms have provided new employment opportunities for creative content producers all over the world. They connect content-hungry users with savvy producers to provide highly engaged experiences for these stakeholder groups. But the process of creating content is relentless: producers have to produce regularly, align with algorithmic determined interest areas, have no set start and finish times, have no union representation and are required to align with the terms and services of these platforms to continue to operate. This chapter highlights the practices and surrounding industries of social media content producers by exploring the precarious labour models, the role of agencies and the new content production models that are created by online content producers.
This article investigates how China’s Wanghong (a Chinese term referring to online influencers’) in Japan engage in cultural and economic practices through transnational homeland social media. Particular attention is given to the characteristics of how they utilise Chinese social media and the ways in which pressures emanating from the homeland-media environment have moulded their distinctive approaches to participating in media practices. Combining qualitative and quantitative methodologies, the data on which this research is based consists of China’s statistical data concerning Wanghong, empirical data generated from interviews with nine China’s Wanghong in Japan, and online participant observations of their media practices. The results of this study reveal that Wanghong must contend with the deep-rooted Sino-Japanese hostilities in the patriotic context of homeland media, as they are largely dependent on Chinese advertisers for their financial resources. Consequently, homeland media becomes a field of negotiation where Wanghong cope with environmental pressures and negotiate their identities and actions, with identity performance and placemaking serving as the creative-compromise strategies they adopt.
Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh kelelahan kerja, keseimbangan kehidupan kerja, dan konflik peran ganda secara parsial maupun simultan terhadap kinerja influencer wanita di Manajemen Qubee. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah metode survey. Dalam pengumpulan data ini menggunakan pengamatan langsung dan penyebaran kuesioner di lapangan yang berhubungan dengan objek penelitian. Populasi dalam penelitian ini adalah para influencer di Manajemen Qubee. Sampel pada penelitian ini adalah Sebagian influencer di Manajemen Qubee yang berjumlah 90 orang. Penarikan sampel ini menggunakan metode sampling jenuh. Hasil penelitian dengan menggunakan analisis jalir diketahui kelelahan kerja, keseimbangan kehidupan kerja secara parsial maupun simultan berpengaruh signifikan terhadap kinerja influencer wanita di Manajemen Qubee.
This paper aims to perform a comprehensive analysis, mapping the main areas of
the endorser marketing literature of the last ten years and offering a classification
of the subject and future research agenda. Despite the widespread use of endorsements in marketing to increase product awareness, the academic literature on this
subject remains fragmented and insufficient. Endorsers’ crucial role in advertising
necessitates a comprehensive review of the current unfulfilled research. Regardless
of expanding interest from academics and practitioners, there is a notable absence
of comprehensive reviews describing the historical development and possible future
trends of endorsers in marketing. In response, this work is the first to synthesize
the existing body of knowledge regarding the role of traditional and non-traditional
celebrity endorsers in the social media context. To fill this gap, this review used a
systematic literature review and thematic analyses of 151 Scopus-indexed articles
from 2014 to 2023. Based on this review, an integrative multidimensional framework is provided. This framework considers the causes, effects, and mediation for
potential outcomes and the contextual factors that impact customers’ behavior. As a
result, this evaluation exposes essential trends in the article, author, nation, journal
performance, and past, present, and future endorser research theme tendencies. Various research gaps are identified, and avenues for future research are proposed that
reflect essential emerging areas and unexplored realms regarding the theory, methodology, and context framework.
Ico Maly buigt zich over de vraag op welke manier Conner Rousseau de sociaaldemocratie nieuw leven inblaast. Hoe gebruikt hij digitale media en digitale cultuur om de beweging op te bouwen?
The purpose of this study is to obtain data and information that provides an overview of the influence of influencer marketing on customer buying interest at Bambam.kuy. This study used a quantitative research design with non-probability sampling techniques and purposive sampling. This research involved 100 respondents, all of whom are Bambam.kuy subscribers. Data were analyzed using simple linear regression and tested with SPSS version 28. The results showed that influencer marketing had a positive and significant effect on consumer buying interest as indicated by the results of t count (4.561) > t table value (1.66055) and the level of significance 0.000 < 0.05).
Social Media is a term that falls under the big umbrella of media. Media includes different communication
tools, such as television, radio, newspapers, magazines, and the internet. The increasing power of social media in the past decade
has made it a crucial part of people's lives. Not only did it change the way people interact together, but it changed the marketing
concept in general. Therefore, the growing importance of social media in people's lives resulted in the appearance of social media
influencers, also called SMI. Objective: This paper aims to present an overview of Social Media Influencers and how it affects
consumers' purchase intention. It focuses on Egyptian consumers' context and contributes to the literature in this area. First, the
research discussed the point of view of being a powerful marketing tool that is slowly being used by many companies worldwide.
Next, the study discussed the origin and development of social media influencers, followed by a detailed illustration of the different
social media influencers' related factors that affect consumers' purchase intention, as well as the literature for the study's
independent variables of interest, meaning transfer, product match-up, and source credibility. Next, the study investigates the
relationship between meaning transfer and customers' purchase intention, product match-up and purchase intention, and source
credibility and customers' purchase intention. Results: A systematic overview of social media influencing marketing is discussed.
Also, a proposed framework is presented as a base for future research to test the actual model in different cultural contexts.
Furthermore, contributions to knowledge and recommendations for future research are presented.Conclusion: The main
contribution of the research is the examination of social media influencers in the Egyptian context, highlighting the power of
influencers over Egyptian consumers and how they trigger and affect their purchase intentions. A base for future research is
accomplished through this research, and future recommendations are presented as well to help guide future research in the same
area. Also, the research presents academic and practical implications for researchers and marketers to use for their studies and
companies.
It is noted that the main scarce resource of postcapitalist society is attention, for which a competitive struggle is waged. A new social hierarchy is being formed, at the top of which are influential celebrities and social media personalities. At the same time, the contradictory nature of the revolution of personality and the new “synthesis of elites” is emphasized.
Este trabalho apresenta um estudo de caso referente à campanha #SalveBelParaMeninas, realizada em maio de 2020, no Twitter. O objetivo é alimentar as discussões sobre os efeitos da presença crescente das crianças na internet. Com base na análise de conteúdo de um corpus de 20 notícias on-line coletadas nas duas semanas subsequentes ao lançamento da hashtag, o estudo revelou dois movimentos. Primeiro, o deslocamento das representações de fama na infância, de um lugar de empoderamento para um lugar de vulnerabilidade. Segundo, a construção de um debate público sobre os direitos da criança e do adolescente que podem estar sendo violados no ambiente digital.
Menarik untuk mempelajari proses perkembangan selebritis mikro saat ini. Akses gratis bagi siapa saja yang mengupload karya audio visual ke YouTube telah melahirkan fenomena baru yang dikenal sebagai micro-celebrity. Studi selebriti diperkaya dengan perkembangan media baru, seperti YouTube, mikro-selebriti, dan hubungan antara penggemar dan idolanya. Adapun hubungan dengan selebriti , ada juga hubungan dengan selebriti mikro terkenal melalui media sosial seperti YouTube. Peneliti kemudian menemukan salah satu perilaku unik yang diamati pada pelanggan Ria SW yang menarik untuk diteliti, yaitu perilaku penggemar/pelanggan ketika mereka menghormati konten Ria Sukmawijaya atau ketika Ria SW mengenal mereka dengan baik. Peneliti mengetahui hal tersebut dengan mengomentari isi Ria SW. Berdasarkan hal tersebut, hal ini mencoba untuk memahami hubungan antara pemujaan selebriti dengan penggunaan internet kompulsif yang dialami oleh penggemar/pelanggan mikroselebriti Ria SW. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kuantitatif dan data dikumpulkan melalui penyebaran survei online. Survey dilakukan terhadap 100 responden yang merupakan subcribers atau pelanggan Ria Sukmawijaya atau yang dikenal dengan Ria SW dan menunjukkan penggunaan internet yang berlebihan yaitu. melihat konten Ria SW lebih dari satu kali. Hasil yang diperoleh diolah di SPSS dengan menentukan metode analisis deskriptif, uji analisis klasik, uji hipotesis, uji korelasi regresi berganda, uji validitas, uji reliabilitas, dan uji tabulasi silang. Informasi tersebut kemudian dijelaskan dengan jelas. Didapatkan hasil yaitu : Ada korelasi yang sangat diterima termasuk pribadi yang intens dan penggunaan Internet kompulsif. Kekuatan hubungan antara pelanggan Entertainment Social, Ria SW Perilaku penggunaan internet intense personal pelanggan Ria SW adalah 0,916, para peneliti kemudian menemukan bahwa variabel pemujaan selebriti memiliki dampak 87,3 persen terhadap perilaku penggunaan internet kompulsif.
ResearchGate has not been able to resolve any references for this publication.