Youtube breeds envy for pop smoke
When discussing the adverse mental health effects of overconsuming social media, usually anxiety and depression are considered. Numerous psychological studies from accredited universities all over the world validate these mental health issues. But what happens when youtube breeds envy?
An up and coming rapper two decades ago struggled to get his music heard. Mixtapes and demos were nearly impossible to get to the right hands. If you weren’t signed and haven’t sold a lot of copies yet, you damn sure didn’t have a video. T .V. would be the only way to see your video pre-internet.Â
Today’s rappers can release a video on youtube as a demo, mixtape, video all in one. This convenience makes it easier for record execs to access your music and see what’s popular. Unfortunately, haters and enemies of the rappers have a chance as well.
Before, a rapper had to deal with enemies seeing them perform and watching a couple of their videos. Today rappers are releasing more videos on youtube as opposed to tv. Social media has made it easier for rappers to be accessible to not just their fans. But this is never discussed.
On the road to stardom or being worshipped as a celebrity, envy comes with the territory. Often those close to the rappers are usually the culprit. The polarity of social media is so extreme no matter how someone consumes it. Today’s generation is obsessed with clout chasing, which generally has no monetary reward.
Clout chasing generally is the act of doing something immoral for “street cred” and popularity. The issue is, the majority of people are never going to encounter the person doing the clout chasing. Haters decades ago maybe just wanted to prevent the local rapper from getting big. This form of clout chasing never extended past the local neighborhood or city at best.
Today, the rapper and the hater both want fame—the latter for eliminating the former. The rapper wants to make the hater feel envious intentionally. Usually, it is through bragging materially, flaunting social status, or just being happy with life in general.
In all honesty, we’re all wired this way, who isn’t excited to overcome opposition on the road to success?Â
Especially opposition coming from black communities that are life-threatening.? What other options are there? Should we expect rappers who come from nothing to become modest all of a sudden when they make money? Especially if their only 20 years old, in the case of Pop Smoke.
There’s no training in using social media. Becoming a rapper doesn’t come with a book list, a tutor, and online courses. Social media is worried about offensive language, but what about the safety of people who want fame and validation?.
Cigarettes didn’t have the surgeon general warning at first, either, which is almost impossible to imagine today.Â
The road to success is lonely, and social media “success” is no different, except the entire world can see it. Never before could society as a whole have so much access to someone, and they feel lonely.
In conclusion, while social media is for everyone, maybe it shouldn’t be. A level of maturity and awareness by its users is crucial for not only mental health but life. Something that started as a way to communicate with family and friends is creating a divide that is uncontainable. People want fame, clout, and validation.
When this doesn’t happen, its consumers develop anxiety, depression, and, in this case Youtube breeds envy.Â
Has social media ever made you depressed, given you anxiety, or made you envious? Let us know your thoughts below in the comment section.