Generation Like

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/generation-like/

I watched Generation Like, a documentary about the younger generation and social media.

It was interesting because it seemed to be aimed at parents and the older generation, almost trying to explain to them what it all means. Which is funny because to kids it's recreational more than anything.

Most of the points I agreed with such as likes make you feel 'empowered' and better about yourself. Also how hard it is to become famous and what you have to do to get there. However, I didn't realise how structured to marketing schemes were for movies and products through social media, I see through a lot of their adverts as I think most people do because we know better, but I didn't realise it was down to every hour what they would release. I believe they only have control of the process of becoming famous and getting likes up to a certain point until it's the audience and the viewers that take over the marketing themselves.

I loved the fact that Tyler Oakley was in the video, it made me smile because I watch YouTubers and everyone wants to be a famous youtuber I mean who wouldn't, you get free stuff and money for doing what you love. But the pressure of people liking you or not, failing or succeeding stops a lot of people from pursuing the youtube career. People who watch youtube do feel like the youtuber is their friend because it's more of an intimate relationship and you feel like they are just chatting with you in your room like a friend would, so they seem way more approachable in real life because they are on the same level as you, where as hollywood celebrities seem untouchable. I felt happy to see Tyler doing this and I think it's so interesting to see how fascinated the older generation was about his life and what he's done. It's so much simpler than they all think.

Also I found it interesting that some kids are being misrepresented because it's never like those kids all sat round the table on facebook together. You are at your house alone on facebook. Plus I've never heard of making over someone's profile because no-one else would care what picture you chose. Everyone just cares about their own profile

I felt like I was watching more of a brand and marketing video than a social media video because I feel like they didn't explore the other aspects of social media and likes such as what other people think about you, and why you want certain people to see you do something online.