Social Media’s Star Power: The New Celebrities and Influencers

Gr 6 Up–No one can deny the allure of social media and its impact on children and teens in the 21st century. This short yet dense read paints a full picture of how this new medium has made stars out of ordinary people. The text outlines the history of social media personalities from the first YouTube “star” PewDiePie to hip-hop superstar Cardi B and captures the ups and downs of social media stardom. The 10-year meteoric rise of social media as an avenue for marketing and fame is discussed within the context of how social media personalities monetize views and “likes.” However, the overall tone of this title is bleak: It reads like a cautionary tale for why aspiring to be a social media star is a bad idea. There are stark statistics regarding the low odds of achieving social media fame, the low pay once some measure of success is achieved, the mental health effects of high-profile visibility, and the fickle attention spans of social media consumers, which adds a discouraging note to an otherwise informative book.